Hi all: Thanks for the great comments on my first posting. Love hearing everyone's thoughts and perspective. Back when we lived in Seattle, we occasionally held "Salons" at our house where groups of our friends would get together and have...what?....face to face dialogue about whatever topic we chose to discuss. Unfortunately, most of the people who would show up had similar viewpoints, but I remember a couple of doozy discussion items that really allowed for some great conversation. I miss those days and guess this will have to do for now. Not that we can't host them again....in fact, trying to figure out how and when to do one here on the face of the sun. But, I digress....
Not sure about you, but my short 20 minute commute to and from work tends to be the time when I think the most about what will today bring (in the morning) and what the heck did I just experience (in the evening)? Tonight, I was driving home having just had a really irritating interaction with someone from, lets say, a younger generation. (Did I REALLY just say that? What am I? 90?) While I chalk her comment up to having a bit to do with the frustration she is experiencing right now, I couldn't help but realize I am finally experiencing the generational differences we all experience as we grow older. Funny thing is, it's we "older folk" who seem the most aware of it while the young stuff just carry on their merry way. I know when I was her age (wow, again, sounding like Father Time), I was probably completely unaware of how I was interacting and what impression I was making on those around me much like I believe she did today. Her comment really sparked today's topic: Human Decency and whether or not it still exists?
While trying to assist her with how to resolve her problem by calling a Help Line, she glared over the top of her open laptop computer, rolled her eyes (Oh No She Didn't!), and said, "I don't have time for that. I work and go to school, ya know." I took a breath, counted to 10 (ok, maybe it was 3), and asked, "You don't have 5 minutes in your busy life to call a 24/7 help line?" I guess I was speaking Latin at that point because this vapid look appeared on her face and it became increasingly clear: the conversation was over.
Now, my thoughts on my drive home included: What part of "I'm trying to help you" didn't she get? Is she really THAT busy that finding 5 minutes is truly impossible given the help line is 24/7? How did I manage to commute for 3 hours one time per week, complete graduate school, work full time, and maintain a social life and she can't manage a 5 minute phone call to HELP HERSELF? And finally, the ultimate question for myself was, "Where is the human decency?" All it took was, "Thanks, Don, I'll give it a try" or even a simple Thanks. Just seems odd and I wonder if her generation really doesn't understand the concept of appreciation? Is it her age (early 20s)? Was it the frustration getting the best of her? Or, am I just becoming the old dude on the verge of saying "In my day....."
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