I often lament the negative aspects I believe contribute to the decline of western civilization. Well, I’ve got another one for you, the regrettable erosion of common courtesy — simple everyday niceties’ that contribute to an enhanced, more satisfying planet.
Let’s begin with a widespread irritant everyone can relate to: the shopping cart that is thoughtlessly abandoned behind your car with a cart corral sitting only steps away. I sincerely believe this act demonstrates a combination of laziness, poor etiquette, slothful parenting and far too many teachers who entered the profession so they could enjoy summers off. Come on, put the cart back, Jack! It will take you about 20 seconds if you are turtle slow.
In many store parking lots, handcarts (are you listening, Target?) are haphazardly scattered everywhere on a regular basis. It’s equivalent to driving through an obstacle course to locate a parking spot not occupied by one of the metal beasts. Mr. store manager, how about instead of some pimple-faced high school kid scurrying through the lot every half hour collecting the orphaned pushcarts, station the pubescent young man on the rooftop with a bullhorn and binoculars. He could embarrass the unsuspecting perpetrators by broadcasting sarcastic motivational comments such as, “hey, tubby, yeah you with the plumber’s crack. Put your basket where it belongs or you’re gonna find your face on a milk carton, slacker!”
Now that would be a motivator to return carts to their proper place. Word would soon spread throughout the community that at your market don’t even think of taking the easy way out after emptying your cart. Of course, it could backfire and frighten customers off causing your pride and joy to close, leaving all employees unemployed.
Another source of aggravation for me is when calling a government office or organization for information and getting “attitude.” Of course this occurs only after successfully maneuvering the recorded prompt minefield, and I am finally speaking to a live person. I’m paying your inflated salary, chickie. Pretend you give a rat’s fanny and provide me with the required data I’m requesting with a smile on your smug face. Hey, do you feel me, DMV, the Black Hole of government inefficiency? My apologies to all the dedicated, conscientious workers at the DMV (estimated to be about 7%). Don’t even get me started on the IRS and their chronic rudeness. They’ve been hounding me for years for the simple fact that back in 1997, I claimed five dependents for the hummingbird couple (George and Gracie) and their three newborns living in my peach tree. I attempted to explain to the unsympathetic shrew on the phone how much time and expense it took to care for a family of five. However, she began tossing around big words like fraud, scam and federal prison, so I paid the fine under protest. (If you work for the IRS, I’m joking, please don’t look into my records). I guess the aspect that troubles me the most regarding the evaporating value of courtesy and civility is the undeniable fact that it takes so little time and is spiritually and psychologically rewarding for both parties involved when experiencing random acts of kindness. Try it. Open a door for someone, smile and say good morning to a passing stranger, assist an elderly woman with her groceries, or simply return your cart to its proper place… because if you carelessly discard it and I see you abandon that hunk of metal behind my car, be prepared for a disgusted head shake and some malicious words muttered under my breath.