My Rants
Anyone who knows me will tell you I have a lot. But they'll also tell you I'm too lazy to sit down and write about them. I'll find motivation one of these days. Maybe it'll take the city of Atlanta towing my car again. heh.
Okay, so I started a couple. They're by no means at the top of the list, just the first couple of thoughts that came to mind. Then I lost motivation and started playing computer games.
The Oblivious
Why are there so many people in the world who are oblivious to their surroundings? It seems to be an epidemic at times. Here are some examples that stand out to me...
- The grocery store. You're trying to make your way down an aisle, but there are 14 people standing in the middle of the aisle with their carts exactly positioned to take up as much of the aisle as scientifically possible, pondering whatever it is that keeps them oblivious to the world. Maybe these people just suffer from lack of peripheral vision or something equally distressing, but whatever it is prevents me from getting around them without me feeling like I'm being rude. So why is it that I feel like I'm being rude trying to get around the oblivious people?
- The Highway. Everybody I know complains about the jackass driving slow in the left (passing, for the challenged) lane. But if it drives everybody crazy, then who exactly is doing it? So I'm almost convinced that everybody really knows that the left lane on highways is for passing only, but some people are just completely oblivious or maybe feel it's their civic duty to slow the rest of the world down to a safer speed. It's especially fun when the left-squatter is pacing the car on the right, despite flashing lights, horns and whatever else is going on in an attempt to get them to move to the right. So if you're one of these people who thinks they're doing society a favor by slowing everybody down, I hope you realize that you're just causing people behind you to drive more dangerously instead.
- The Highway, again. I'm sure you've seen this. I car is merging onto the highway, but that same entrance lane becomes an exit lane. It's clearly marked, but the person waits until the last possible moment to realize that they're about to exit. It's like a lightbulb goes off and then it becomes your problem all of a sudden as they force you to take evasive action. Either pay attention and get over when you need to, or get off the exit and deal with your obliviousness!
Self Importance
Why are there so many people in the world who think they're better than everybody else? Their time is always more valuable than yours. They're the ones who cut you off in traffic, cut you in line or make a scene to be taken care of first, don't appreciate services provided to them and therefore don't tip properly, etc. etc. So please, if you're in a position where people demand to be taken care of in front of others, don't do it. Send them to the back of the line, or have security escort them out. Taking care of them ahead of others may make the situation go away for the moment, but it just pisses everybody off behind them - the people who you actually want to do business with. And now they know they can jump everybody at that establisment again in the future. The customer is NOT always right so step up and do the right thing.
Tipping
I'm a firm believer that everybody should spend at least a year waiting tables, or some other tip-reliant job at some point in their life. I grew up in a service economy busing tables, waiting tables, bar backing, parking cars and carrying luggage. These people rely on tips for their wages - $2 an hour isn't going to pay the rent. Granted, there are some people who just aren't cut out to be in that business and often provide poor service, but if they're trying hard and being pleasant they shouldn't get stiffed. Also, if you hang out and chat for an hour after dinner, you should factor that into the tip. Many waiters rely on volume since most people only tip as a percentage of the bill. The longer you sit there and gab, the smaller your percentage tip ends up being. It's no big deal to hang out, just make sure to work that into the tip. Anyway, the point being that there are more factors than just a flat percentage of the bill. If you can't afford to tip, then you can't afford the dinner - try hitting a drive-thru instead.