Something that is rapidly approaching the status of myth in some areas of the United States.
Yesterday, while shopping for the holidays and taking in a bit of entertainment:
- I had to pull over to the side of the road, get out of my car, and politely ask someone to pull into the nearby parking lot to continue their conversation with their son, courteously pointing out that the middle of a busy street really wasn't the best place to conduct such an activity. Especially since the youngster was standing in the middle of that busy street, talking through the window. Safety first.
- Ask a cell phone user to please vacate the theater to continue their conversation, politely pointing out to the gentleman that he was embarrassing himself by yelling in the middle of an audience of quiet people.
- Suffer the pain of nearly having my fingernails ripped from my body as the door I was politely holding open for a woman shopper was yanked from my grasp. The lady could do it herself, you see.
- Courteously point out to a store clerk that I had said "Happy Holidays", not "Merry/Happy/Joyful (insert specific name of most offensive winter holiday here)". I was then called a liar. I wrote a polite letter to the manager of the store in question about the clerk's behavior when I got home.
- Feel fearful as someone whom I passed on the road got mad at me and decided to follow me home to tell me just what a piss poor driver they felt I was. I wasted fifteen minutes of my day driving around my neighborhood, since I didn't want this impolite person to know where I lived. They'd be the kind of person to just barge in without knocking, and such people really aren't welcome in my home.
- Have an employee of my favorite winery call me to tell me that my best friend had not ordered a holiday gift pack of wine for me, and then proceeded to ask me if I would like to go ahead and purchase one myself. I instead asked to be removed from all mailing and phone lists.
Common courtesy prompted most of my actions towards others yesterday. Common courtesy also, unfortunately, prompted most of my reactions.