Assholes

Ok, here's my schpeel on the etiquette of interacting with your fellow human beings:

I first noticed this attitude while driving. I later realized that it extends to every situation where you have to interact with your fellow humans. The grocery store, K-mart, the DMV, Subway ... you name it. There seems to be this attitude that can be characterized thus: "I am outraged because, while in public situations, every element of the situation is not perfectly arranged for my total convenience and satisfaction." Another version is: "It really irritates me that I'm not the only person in the universe." This attitude doesn't come out of the blue. Anyone who's raised a child has recognized this attitude vividy displayed at ages 2, 3, 4. I'll qualify this by admitting that I haven't raised a child; but I know many people who have, and I think everyone has heard of "the terrible twos."

So why do people conduct themsleves as 2-year olds in public? I will note that there's a drastic difference between driving and other types of situations. In driving, people's dark sides emerge in full. It's like they're playing a video game. There's some kind of definite psychological thing about being enclosed in a steel box.

I don't really have any more to say about this. It seems I like people less and less as time goes on, but I'll add this: "That which you hate most in other people is that which you fear most in yourself."

Deep, huh? Anyway, let's try to quit acting like assholes.