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Published on 06/22/1998 All articles from this issue

A world of inconsiderates

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By Clyde Noel

A Side of Clyde

It all started when an inquisitive receptionist screened my call to a friend who works for an electronics company. After I told her who I was, she wanted to know what I wanted, what I wanted him for, and what my name was again.

That went too far for a business call, and I told her to forget the whole thing. She was too inquisitive for her own good and too inconsiderate of people who call her boss for numerous reasons.

However, we meet a world of inconsiderate people every day. Here are more examples of people who care less about you and their neighbors.

Inconsiderate marketers who call between 6 and 9 p.m. when you just sit down to eat, and they want you to donate money to a police charity or a function in a city you never go near. They don't even start by saying, "Excuse me, but if you're eating, I can call back."

Inconsiderate drivers who do 60 mph in the fast lane on Interstate Highway 280. With more than 20 cars behind them and one on their rear bumper, they still won't move over.

Inconsiderate friends who invite you to dinner and drinks, and never turn off their television. The stereo is also going full power from another section of the house.

Inconsiderate home gardeners who operate landscape machinery before noon on weekends. In particular, the gardener out there with a power mower or rototiller at 8 a.m. this time of year to beat down the weeds.

Inconsiderate movie goers who take their kids to see a Nicholas Cage or Steven Segal movie. The sex and violence must leave an impression on the young minds, because at a critical moment they speak loudly, "What are they doing mommy?"

Inconsiderate stock brokers calling from New York who wake you up at 6 a.m. to give you the tip of the day and want you to buy 2000 shares of U.S. Unicorn. It's 10 a.m. their time, and all they want to do is sell, sell, sell, and they don't care who their victims are.

Inconsiderate beach loungers who put their blankets close to yours and turn on their blaring Walkman with Jimmy Buffett singing "Wasting Away in Margaritaville," or Celine Dion singing, "Love is on the Way."

Inconsiderate joggers or power walkers who stand outside your house talking, or yelling before 9 a.m. on weekends.

Inconsiderate night hawks who say good night to each other at 2-3-4 a.m. before they get in their car and speak loudly because they had too much to drink.

Inconsiderate women in the supermarket who berate their children in public, making a complete nuisance of themselves. "Don't do that again," "I'm not going to tell you one more time," "I told you before, I'm not buying you more candy." Is there a reason for a display like this in public?

Other inconsiderate people:

Waiters who are condescending.

Grocery checkers who tell their life story with five people waiting in line with their shopping baskets full of groceries.

Non-readers who talk loud in libraries with friends they haven't seen since an hour ago.

Residents who never hear their dogs barking after midnight, but all their neighbors do.

Clyde Noel is a longtime contributor to the Town Crier.