If there is a human characteristic i would ever choose as the one i hate most this would be impoliteness.You see, rude people have the ability to bring out worse parts of ourselves.They can literally transform us into low ethic beings distorting our principles and denaturing our goodness. Offending words,unkind actions,repulsive behavior are not always treated with disregard as they probably should, but they often generate despicable and unwanted feelings,as disappointment,anger, cynicism, hate and hunger for revenge.
Yes, exposure to rudeness produces all of the above causing bad moment reactions as direct effects which however are only part of the problem. Being dragged in a rude conversation, exchanging words you regret later is the least that can happen. A well forged character will recognize his mistake and try not to repeat it. However even wisdom can prove inadequate when it comes to the impact such behaviors have to one's mind and thoughts.Seeing a wise person as not one who avoids mistakes but as one who doesn't repeat them, confirms the above statement. An impolite situation is a virus.It will attack your character and defy your sense of morality.It will try to convince you that your view of the world is too naive and innocent.It will try to persuade you that people around you are not to be trusted, stealing this way the natural faith we have as beings to our kind.Dealing with a hypocrite a liar a calumniator or a thief even a murderer is less dangerous for your soul because your logic labels these people as bad examples you need to avoid. On the other hand a rude person will certainly be disliked and will draw no sympathies but few will point fingers at him declaring him an outcast. No, the unkindness of such a person will secretly and quietly corrode one by one your moral layers. Imagine going to work each morning and having drivers bullying you, changing lanes and driving recklessly around you only to gain a few minutes.Imagine walking on a crowded city, receiving pushes from hasty walkers and loosing taxi's from people that jump out of nowhere to "outsmart" you on the cab's hunt. Imagine not receiving a thank you, for holding a door, or for helping someone in need.And what about asking someone to join you for a drink or out on date only to get a rude response with a contempt "What were you thinking?" look? All these are not just antisocial behavior. Thinking that this is the case is just an ostrich way of facing reality. Such sort of interactions have their way to invade and penetrate even the strongest wall. Your egoism and your defense alert will start working trying to find a solution and a new approach to this new world the virus has just "helped" you discover. Next day you ll be the one changing lanes fast,you ll be the one "stealing" someone's cab, and you will doubt offering your unselfish aid again.Of course upon a gentle and kind gesture your response will still be gratitude and a thankful smile coming from a fade old belief of trustworthy fellow beings.The memory of the feelings rudeness gave birth to is bitter and you won't want to offer such taste to others specially ones who don't deserve it.However the glass is broken.You will not be anymore the person who evokes goodness but the one that responds to it.
The irony here is that human limits will allow this change perhaps even thankfully. We view it not as an alteration but merely a slight modification with a desired result to pacify our disappointment and anger. We believe that it doesn't take us from the white side of things to the black one. It doesn't even take us to a gray zone! It's just a necessary drift to the path which we are already following and it might require from us to sacrifice some "minor" principles but since we are not crossing any red line then no harm is done.And this is exactly how cynicism is created.
What happens hereafter though? Is this situation reversible?How can we fight this insidious virus who has cunningly tainted our heart? Do we finally manage to see through the misleading illusion when perhaps we get too close to crossing moral boundaries?Even if this happens does the doubt of the world ever disappears completely or will it keep lurking, shading our confidence?
Clear your mind and reach for your own answers.Changing ourselfs sometimes is more important and difficult than changing the world.The path towards the cure might prove perilous and full of tempting alternate routes.Upon them, pause, smile and remind yourself, Excellence is a Habit!
Yes, exposure to rudeness produces all of the above causing bad moment reactions as direct effects which however are only part of the problem. Being dragged in a rude conversation, exchanging words you regret later is the least that can happen. A well forged character will recognize his mistake and try not to repeat it. However even wisdom can prove inadequate when it comes to the impact such behaviors have to one's mind and thoughts.Seeing a wise person as not one who avoids mistakes but as one who doesn't repeat them, confirms the above statement. An impolite situation is a virus.It will attack your character and defy your sense of morality.It will try to convince you that your view of the world is too naive and innocent.It will try to persuade you that people around you are not to be trusted, stealing this way the natural faith we have as beings to our kind.Dealing with a hypocrite a liar a calumniator or a thief even a murderer is less dangerous for your soul because your logic labels these people as bad examples you need to avoid. On the other hand a rude person will certainly be disliked and will draw no sympathies but few will point fingers at him declaring him an outcast. No, the unkindness of such a person will secretly and quietly corrode one by one your moral layers. Imagine going to work each morning and having drivers bullying you, changing lanes and driving recklessly around you only to gain a few minutes.Imagine walking on a crowded city, receiving pushes from hasty walkers and loosing taxi's from people that jump out of nowhere to "outsmart" you on the cab's hunt. Imagine not receiving a thank you, for holding a door, or for helping someone in need.And what about asking someone to join you for a drink or out on date only to get a rude response with a contempt "What were you thinking?" look? All these are not just antisocial behavior. Thinking that this is the case is just an ostrich way of facing reality. Such sort of interactions have their way to invade and penetrate even the strongest wall. Your egoism and your defense alert will start working trying to find a solution and a new approach to this new world the virus has just "helped" you discover. Next day you ll be the one changing lanes fast,you ll be the one "stealing" someone's cab, and you will doubt offering your unselfish aid again.Of course upon a gentle and kind gesture your response will still be gratitude and a thankful smile coming from a fade old belief of trustworthy fellow beings.The memory of the feelings rudeness gave birth to is bitter and you won't want to offer such taste to others specially ones who don't deserve it.However the glass is broken.You will not be anymore the person who evokes goodness but the one that responds to it.
The irony here is that human limits will allow this change perhaps even thankfully. We view it not as an alteration but merely a slight modification with a desired result to pacify our disappointment and anger. We believe that it doesn't take us from the white side of things to the black one. It doesn't even take us to a gray zone! It's just a necessary drift to the path which we are already following and it might require from us to sacrifice some "minor" principles but since we are not crossing any red line then no harm is done.And this is exactly how cynicism is created.
What happens hereafter though? Is this situation reversible?How can we fight this insidious virus who has cunningly tainted our heart? Do we finally manage to see through the misleading illusion when perhaps we get too close to crossing moral boundaries?Even if this happens does the doubt of the world ever disappears completely or will it keep lurking, shading our confidence?
Clear your mind and reach for your own answers.Changing ourselfs sometimes is more important and difficult than changing the world.The path towards the cure might prove perilous and full of tempting alternate routes.Upon them, pause, smile and remind yourself, Excellence is a Habit!
