R.E.S.P.E.C.T

I just simply cannot stand rude people.
People who speak, write emails, messages in a very curt, rude manner.

Sometimes I feel like telling them off and say, "look, there are a million and one ways to say this, and you choose to be condescending."

I don't know whether it's me but sometimes I think politeness and respect is beginning to lose it's importance in society today.

I see it in adults, the same adults who try to inculcate values in children.. Emphasis on speaking your mind, standing up for what you believe in, seem to overshadow showing empathy, respect and patience.

Recently I just received an email from a fellow colleague. It sounds curt and it made my blood boil reading it. I can choose to write an equally irritating email back to the person, confront the person, ignore the person or tell it to someone else. I chose to reply the email in an equally curt manner. Curt by my standards. I'm not sure if the person knows how mad I felt reading the email. I'm not sure if I did the right thing.

But to this day, I just cannot let it go. It's something I will remember. WIll it affect our interaction? Probably.

But I'm not the sort who will show the person a black face forever. I will always try to remember that in the grand scheme of things, this is just a tiny bleep. An insignificant one. But keeping the anger and emotions down is a true test of my character.

I notice that there is a growing number of people who feels that letting things go is a sign of weakness in character. "I won't take it lying down!" I hear that phrase a lot these days. As if to imply that taking things lying down shows lack of courage to stand up for what is right. And people who take things lying down are seen as a softie or easily bullied. Although standing up for what is right is extremely important, but in certain scenarios, it'a totally uncalled for.

For me, i still believe that whatever goes around comes around. Experience has repeatedly shown me that a person who pisses me off will usually get into trouble somehow or other without me playing any part in it. Their true character will be obvious to everyone without even me squeaking a word.

Patience is indeed a virtue. Remembering that this life is just a pit stop makes me realize that there is really no point in insisting that you are right or investing in negative emotions just to prove that you are right and someone else is wrong. Because ultimately, the decision is not yours. And you can never get everyone in the entire planet to see your point of view anyway.

So basically your reaction of 'standing up for what is right' could probably be just a result of your overwhelming anger.

Seriously, what Im really worried about is that respect is totally lacking. No respect for authority, for others, nothing. One day, respect will probably be equated to cowardice! And patience to being a doormat! That will be an extremely sad future. :(