I admit. I am typically a shy person, but that does not prevent me from judging myself and anyone that I get in contact with.
Just minutes earlier at an university library, some woman in the next study booth was playing Lady Gaga rather loud even though the sign clearly labels the area as silent zone. Lady Gaga may sing awesome songs, but it still distracts me from my study… After 15+ minutes, I had enough, so I walked to her booth, knocked at the booth door. She looked at me puzzled, wondering why I put up a smile as a gesture of politeness. I slid the glass door open, and I asked her if she could tune down a bit of her music. She was visibly upset, without apologizing a bit..turned her head away and ignored me.
I went back to my booth, and shortly after, her music volume indeed got lower. And then soon, she left her booth, and gave me a stare like “who gives you the right to tell me how loud I can play my music in the library?” Well, at least, I got what I wanted (a bit peace and quietness), at a cost of being treated with rudeness.
People around me don’t act mindful of their actions at all, and they live in their little bubbles thinking they have every right to do whatever they desire. They can’t possibly imagine any of their actions would disturb anyone in any way.
Granted, I am not all that easy to get along either. Obviously, I don’t have that many friends, so yeah I naturally experience depression from time to time. With rude people all over the place, it is hard to imagine having many friends at all.
Any thoughts?
3 comments
Hi. I totally agree with what you’re saying. The problem is that too many people in our society are self-centered and they believe that the world revolves around them. In the schools, we try to teach our students about empathy and caring about others, but I guess as they get older, they start looking out for themselves. The world would be a better place if more people cared about how our actions affect others.
While I can’t speak for the woman, the reason I get upset if people tell me I’m bothering them is I feel ashamed for not figuring it out myself. Being ashamed makes me feel hurt and vulnerable, and can sometimes cause me to lash out. Kind of like how wounded animals are dangerous because they are afraid. Of course, this may not be even close to the reason most people get upset if you tell them you’re bothering them…
I would love to be your friend. Unfortunately, I am rather emotionally fragile… 🙁 So, please be gentle with me.
Yes, I agree with you both. We humans are phenomenally selfish. I like your comment, Otherworldliness, that (excuse the paraphrase) that people exist in a bubble, with the expectation that they should be able to say and do as they please. The social experiment of individuality and personal freedom, it often seems, too easily gets out of hand. People hear the common message that our opinions, feelings, outlooks…are just as valid as anyone else’s, and it’s as if we feel justified in expecting to get the things we want.
Have you gone to a movie theatre lately? Or how about a public library? Courtesy and consideration–and I don’t know if it’s specific to this age–seem more a figment of the imagination than fact. So yes, I agree with you that it’s certainly easy to be a misanthrope.