BY SHARON VAN ARNEMAN
Inconsiderate people. They are everywhere. It’s true that – intentionally or unintentionally – we are all guilty of being inconsiderate on occasion; and I’ll even go so far as to say that there’s a sense in which we all are inconsiderate to a certain extent. However, what I’m talking about here are people for whom inconsiderate behaviour is a constant. They act as if they are incapable of thinking of anyone beyond themselves. They live life thoughtlessly, seemingly oblivious to the exasperating effect their actions, or the lack thereof, can have on other people. And even when they are confronted, they have the attitude that it’s much ado about nothing.
It’s like the realtor who tells you to meet her at 11:00am sharp, because that’s her only opening to show you the property. Although 11:00am is somewhat inconvenient for you, you shuffle things around and rearrange your entire schedule to accommodate her timing, even managing to arrive a full three minutes early. By 11:10am, you’re really getting irritable and think to give her a call, but all you have is her company’s number – and you already know making that call would be useless. Ten minutes turn to twenty; twenty turn to half an hour. It’s finally 11:40am and as you’re about to leave, she arrives. “You’re leaving?!” “Why?!” She laughs, alluding to being “a little bit late”, babbles on about closing a deal at her last showing… yada…yada; but there’s never any apology.
It’s like the early-riser roommate who starts his day off every morning, playing classical music, loud enough for the entire building complex to hear. Intellectually, he knows that there are those who work the night shift; he knows of others who stay up late to study; he knows that not everyone in his building is a morning person; he knows that different people prefer different morning routines; but somehow, that knowledge doesn’t translate into the kind of behaviour that makes him mindful of others. Why all the fuss?! He doesn’t get why everyone is so cranky and snappy. It’s not like it’s heavy metal rock songs! Why would anyone not like classical music first thing in the morning?!
It’s like the pet owner who sees no reason to supervise her pooch. Her cramped living quarters are already so restrictive, but she wants a dog. And while her neighbours, having done due diligence, forego getting a pet; she gets one anyway. Then she goes about her business and seems mindless of the dog running wild on other people’s property; pooping on this neighbour’s doorstep; peeing on that neighbour’s porch; making a raucous in the neighbourhood, barking up a storm day and night. But the pet owner acts as if she can’t understand why people are complaining. Dogs will be dogs. How can anyone get upset at such an adorable creature, anyway?
The actions of inconsiderate people are marked by thoughtlessness. They have little respect for other people’s feelings. They’ll infringe upon your rights and then wonder why you’re upset. They don’t realize that you can also decide to be as thoughtless as they are, but that you have instead chosen to take the higher road and have kind regard for others – including they themselves – because you understand that when you put yourself in other people’s shoes and consider their feelings, a little consideration can go a long way.
To contact Sharon,
write to P.O. Box 484,
Philipsburg, St. Maarten,
Dutch Caribbean.
Email: allbecauseofgrace
@gmail.com
