Ok so the title isn't talking about me. Otherwise...I would not be typing.
Here is the question I pose today:
"What on Earth posses people to make decisions and/or to speak without thinking?" I think the answer is summed up by the Greek word idios which gives us the modern day English word idiot. No I'm not saying that people are stupid (though a couple of friends of mine would argue it true), but instead I'm saying that people are "living in their own world" as the meaning of idios actually implies. This living in a state of idios leads people to be self-centered and undisciplined in thought, word, and deed.
I think that perhaps I experienced some of this today.
As I was walking downtown I saw this guy on a bicycle riding down a short length of street from the city's nearby walking bridge. While he was still a good distance away I witnessed an elderly woman (70's by guesstimation) get into her nice SUV and get ready to pull out. The biker was approaching at quite the speed and incredibly close to the vehicles, so it was no surprise that the woman pulled out and he nearly ran into her. He braked and let out a yell or surprise. After he collected himself he suddenly became enraged and started yelling after her! There was a stop sign not far ahead so he rode up next to her yelling through the glass and she stared at him in utter confusion. He knocked on her window while yelling and I was shocked that she had the guts to roll down her window at such incident. He then proceeded to put his finger in her face and yell "watch the *bleep* where you're driving!" and this entire time I'm wanting to yell and scream at the guy to leave her alone and move on. Needless to say the poor woman went off with a look of fear and confusion draped on her face like veil. The time had passed and all was said and done...and I was left angry, wishing that I had done something.
In my defense, I refrained from doing anything because I was in company uniform. I later talked to my manager and asked about possible problems I might face if I would have engaged with the guy. My manager assured me that if i had engaged I would not have suffered and that for future reference I'd be fine. In my "offense", it was somewhat selfish and I failed to act when the moment demanded that a peace maker step in; when someone needed aid, even when she was truly in the wrong for not paying better attention.
The biker, however, also failed to pay attention to the women, and in his pride and lack of self discipline he lashed out against the poor woman who just made an honest mistake and did not deserve such a verbal assault. The man was an "idiot", failing to recognize his own error, and then secondly acting out from pure emotion and rage without thinking of the consequences or what he was accomplishing (or not accomplishing in this case).
In the end, we have a woman who a) is terrified and b) still doesn't know what she did wrong (both due to mindless yelling instead of calm explanation). And we have a biker who will go on to live in his "idiotic" state, losing relationships, living stressed, and ultimately earning purgatory points.
Lets all learn to be a little more mindful or our actions and whats going on around us...and maybe the world will be a little bit better place.
Peace be with you all,
Stephen
Here is the question I pose today:
"What on Earth posses people to make decisions and/or to speak without thinking?" I think the answer is summed up by the Greek word idios which gives us the modern day English word idiot. No I'm not saying that people are stupid (though a couple of friends of mine would argue it true), but instead I'm saying that people are "living in their own world" as the meaning of idios actually implies. This living in a state of idios leads people to be self-centered and undisciplined in thought, word, and deed.
I think that perhaps I experienced some of this today.
As I was walking downtown I saw this guy on a bicycle riding down a short length of street from the city's nearby walking bridge. While he was still a good distance away I witnessed an elderly woman (70's by guesstimation) get into her nice SUV and get ready to pull out. The biker was approaching at quite the speed and incredibly close to the vehicles, so it was no surprise that the woman pulled out and he nearly ran into her. He braked and let out a yell or surprise. After he collected himself he suddenly became enraged and started yelling after her! There was a stop sign not far ahead so he rode up next to her yelling through the glass and she stared at him in utter confusion. He knocked on her window while yelling and I was shocked that she had the guts to roll down her window at such incident. He then proceeded to put his finger in her face and yell "watch the *bleep* where you're driving!" and this entire time I'm wanting to yell and scream at the guy to leave her alone and move on. Needless to say the poor woman went off with a look of fear and confusion draped on her face like veil. The time had passed and all was said and done...and I was left angry, wishing that I had done something.
In my defense, I refrained from doing anything because I was in company uniform. I later talked to my manager and asked about possible problems I might face if I would have engaged with the guy. My manager assured me that if i had engaged I would not have suffered and that for future reference I'd be fine. In my "offense", it was somewhat selfish and I failed to act when the moment demanded that a peace maker step in; when someone needed aid, even when she was truly in the wrong for not paying better attention.
The biker, however, also failed to pay attention to the women, and in his pride and lack of self discipline he lashed out against the poor woman who just made an honest mistake and did not deserve such a verbal assault. The man was an "idiot", failing to recognize his own error, and then secondly acting out from pure emotion and rage without thinking of the consequences or what he was accomplishing (or not accomplishing in this case).
In the end, we have a woman who a) is terrified and b) still doesn't know what she did wrong (both due to mindless yelling instead of calm explanation). And we have a biker who will go on to live in his "idiotic" state, losing relationships, living stressed, and ultimately earning purgatory points.
Lets all learn to be a little more mindful or our actions and whats going on around us...and maybe the world will be a little bit better place.
Peace be with you all,
Stephen
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