Have I just gotten to the point where I am one of those people?! You know--intolerant!?
I had an off-campus meeting within the last couple of hours (thus explaining my lack of posts) and in what is seems to be becoming an increasingly frequent occurrence, I once again found myself in close proximity to someone who simply could NOT KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT FOR ONE BLOODY SECOND! She sat behind me carrying on a semi-whispered ("whispering" being a skill which she apparently learned while working in a sawmill) conversation:
Jabberjabberjabber--whisperwhisper--HYUCK! HYUCK! SS-Ss-sss--uhuh! --jabberjabber--MMMhhmm!--chatter-- chatter--THAT'S RIGHT--jabberjabber. Jabberjabberjabber!
WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!
Great Thor's Hammer, woman, there is someone trying to speak to the rest of the people in the room, and if you would just keep your mouth quiet for maybe even a SECOND, we could concentrate. Because I guarantee, from what I've heard, you don't have anything to add to any discussion other than volume and hot air.
Anyway, I've noticed I am becoming much more bothered by such behavior of late, and I'm not sure why.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at December 13, 2005 01:38 PMHere's the Doc's prescription- consume no less than 2 boxes, (that's 100) of 230 grain FMJ pills in one afternoon in the sunshine someplace. Cheap crockery makes fine objects to displace your frustration on. Get it at the Salvation Army store or some similar place.
You will feel much better afterwards. The Hoppes #9 aromatherapy afterwards extends the sense of well being for many hours.
Posted by: Nate at December 13, 2005 01:52 PMYou know, I think you're right.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at December 13, 2005 02:10 PMYou could just be getting old and crotchety like me or maybe people really are becoming more inconsiderate.
Here in Huntsville, it take the form of refusing to use turnsignals.
Posted by: Larry Anderson at December 13, 2005 02:18 PMI only WISH I could be old and crotchety like you, Larry--suave, debonair, successful business owner, all that AND a cool antique Mercedes.
As it is, I fear I am becoming old and crotchety like The Guy Who Screams in the Park.
Or, maybe it is other people.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at December 13, 2005 02:35 PMI think it is other people. You're "the nice other Mr. Terry that we gave a possum to" after all. it's kind of a long name, but also what The Middle Girl insists you are called. I'm working on at least insisting on "whom".
Posted by: Jordana at December 13, 2005 04:23 PMAwwww! Okay, well, you've convinced me it's other people. The question is how best to deal with them without resorting to having to turn around, raise and eyebrow, and loudly HARUMPH! my displeasure with them.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at December 13, 2005 04:41 PMGiving people the look should be sufficient. If it isn't, I suggest slapping them silly.
Posted by: Jordana at December 13, 2005 05:15 PMI hate cell phones in meetings, movies and restaurants. The person? receiving the call always talks loud enough to raise the dead, not to mention jabbering away about private matters best left out of public ear. I swore I'd not be tethered to the leash of one but having one IS useful. Now that pay-phones have for the most part disappeared I guess I just have to live with them, doesn't mean I don't turn it off most times.
Posted by: Tony von Krag at December 13, 2005 07:17 PMThank you, Jordana, for permission to assault and batter such persons!
And Tony, she didn't have a cell phone--she was talking to a woman beside her, who was very nearly as loud, and whose commentary was just as pointlessly useless. Grr.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at December 14, 2005 09:26 AM