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10.11.2011

Labor of Loathe

Before I get started, let me preface this post with the fact that I have a lot of carpenters and other laborers as family, friends and coworkers. So I know that electricians are people too and can be nice ones at that. I love old carpenters with their mangled hands and their cocky grins (and their dirty jokes). I love a manly man who can build something with his own two hands. I am used to boots and hard hats and beards and bellies and bad words. But I can't stand rudeness.

I don't like it when I am jolted awake at 5 a.m. every morning to the sound of slamming doors, loud voices and talking, gunning truck engines and backup beepers. I appreciate that laborers have to get up early and go to work, but I do not appreciate it when they feel the need to wake me up as well. The first door slam may have been an accident. The following 37 slams are just plain rude. The standing in the parking lot next to your running (diesel, smelly, loud) trucks, laughing and talking loudly at...5:27 a.m. is NOT acceptable behavior in a public place, especially one where other people are sleeping. Not only are other people sleeping because it's oh, EARLY in the morning, but they are sleeping becuase...you are standing outside a HOTEL!

This is so rude!!

I would like to say this is the only thing they have done, but it's not. The first day I came to Missouri, I checked into my hotel and there were a bunch of contractors standing right outside the entry door, smoking, drinking beer and...making comments about the good looking ladies. Which apparently to them...was me. I not only could HEAR them talking about me, but I had to pass them to get into the hotel. I had to pass through their smoke and their comments to get to my new "home". I felt uncomfortable.

But this morning I just felt mad. I mean, didn't their parents teach them any MANNERS!? Don't they realize that they are being rude?

But they probably don't. Most people who are doing whatever annoying thing they are doing do not realize their faults. Bad drivers...never THINK they are bad drivers. My grandmother drives 60 on the freeway becuase she is being "safe". Loud talkers never realize that they are being loud. I rode the bus once in some country where an American was yapping on and on about himself, loudly, and I though, GEEZ, someone needs to shut him up, he is the only loud person on this bus!

I am not perfect either. I sit quietly and fume about this annoying loud American, these contractors, or the little only lady going 60 on the freeway, but then I too, sometimes do similar things. We are blind to our own faults. Sometimes, we just need someone to (kindly) tell us that we are being rude. I think many of us would be embarrassed to hear it. I would. I think your kind piece of advice would be the best way of getting me to stop doing whatever rude thing I was doing. Rather than an angry accusation.

So I did not do what I wanted to do and stick my head out of the hotel window and yell, "SHUT THE *$%@ UP!" I think they would have just laughed. Nope, I got up and started my workday early. But if I see those guys in the hallway tonight, I am going to (kindly!!$%$#&) give them a piece of my mind.

What do you think I should do? Have you ever had to deal with rudeness? How did you handle it? What's something that you really think is rude? Do you tell your friends when you think they are being rude? 

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6 comments:

  1. I think you should throw things at them. Rocks or clumps of mud maybe. It's tit for tat to them. Rude begets rude.

    The fun part of being a selfish asshole is that when you do something only a selfish asshole would do, it's kind of what you're good at. That, I'm sure, is their basic approach.

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  2. oooh, this is a tough one! I tell my students (bluntly, firmly, all the live long day)when they are being rude. No problem, because I don't want them going out in the world and getting fired or shunned or beat up because no one wanted to hurt their feelings by telling them something was rude. BUT I am a huge coward when it comes to telling adults if they are being obnoxious! I am SUCH a coward about that!

    I would complain to the hotel management if I were you, though!

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  3. at 5 in the morning i probably would have yelled SHUT THE FARK UP! haha.. but i dont take kindly to my night sleep being interrupted.

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  4. Oh my gosh, I would be so annoyed if I was you, too. Seriously. That is so rude. People can be so inconsiderate. And no, none of us is perfect, but at least I know you can say that you are a considerate and thoughtful person!!

    I hope that you get a chance to tell them to shut the heck up and be quieter in the morning!!

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  5. Well I really think that most rude people just don't THINK! I doubt they are being obnoxious on purpose.

    But I do think you should tell the hotel mgmt. Quite likely other guests are being annoyed too.

    I wouldn't confront these guys myself.

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  6. I know it's Missouri, but I'm STUNNED that there isn't some kind of noise ordinance preventing them from starting work that early.

    Second, I think you're absolutely right that a lot of people (myself especially) are blind to how some of their behaviors come across. Some people really are rude on purpose, but a lot of people would do just fine with a gentle nudge in the polite direction.

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