Are people wound a bit too tight?

That wasn’t meant to be a rhetorical question.

You’ve seen them… People scurrying about with an air of annoyance at everyone and everything that happens to be in their way.

For some, life has become so busy and so now now now, that it’s hard to wait… for anything? Even other people. Especially other people.

Just get out of their way and take cover.

Cautionary note–

A draft of this post has simmered for a while on my hard drive. I almost pulled the plug. It didn’t feel completely right. Maybe too judgmental? And that’s not what I’m going for. But, there’s a story to tell and I don’t think the post will be content to stay on my hard drive. It speaks of the times we’re living in.

So, here goes…

I will be one of the first to tell you that the evening news is usually something be avoided.* This story a couple of weeks ago was nothing but unreal.

It was about this guy who runs around terrorizing local businesses with his charming personality.

It seems coffee shops are his favorite haunt.

Nothing wrong with that. Yet…

Here’s his M.O.—When an employee of his target business reacts less than favorably to his complete and total lack of charm and basic human decency, he steps up his game from low-level jerk to complete and total asshat. Apparently, this is a daily game he plays around the neighborhood.

I’ll cut to the punchline… the news story shows a video clip of him spitting a mouthful of water on the manager of a local coffeeshop because he had been asked to leave. Why? Because he was harassing one of the employees. In fact, this was a repeat offense of an incident for which he had been asked to never return to the shop.

Think about what he’s leaving in his wake. Does he think he’s tough? Do his friends think he’s cool? Does he even have friends? Even the roughest of crowds have their codes of conduct. Not sure this behavior passes any of those.

One thing I’m sure of is that no LifeUntucked reader would ever, ever get close to this kind of behavior. I share the story for one reason and one reason only…

It’s important to take a pulse on our reactions to all the stimulation this world is throwing at us on a daily basis.

I think it’s well beyond taking its toll.

You know, I noticed something odd about the guy. Odd for a guy acting out this way, that is. The clip was from a surveillance video so the resolution was not exactly in HD.

What I noticed was he appeared to be a better than average looking guy. Not a rockstar. Not a guy in a suit. Not all spit and polish (pun intended). But a capable looking, a fairly well kempt regular sort of guy.

What happened that turned him into a total jackass? You’ve got to hope he hasn’t always behaved this way. The story went on to say the police investigation revealed he has left a nasty trail of his life’s debris throughout this neighborhood. And by neighborhood, we mean a whole section of the city.

Apparently, this guy does this kind of thing all the time.

What happened to him? What did he let happen? What life experience makes this okay for him? It could be any of a million things. Exactly what is not the point or the message.

I strive to maintain a perspective that we are living in an exciting and amazing time with almost endless opportunity. So many barriers have been reduced or eliminated…

BUT, and it’s a very, very big BUT. A lot of baggage comes with that. Baggage we all should keep a careful eye on.

Do you keep your guard up? If so, against what?

What should we do?

A good first step is to fine-tune your awareness. Monitor what gets your attention.

Always keep your antenna up (on your BS detector, that is)

Ask…What was it that just tweaked me? Why? Does it even matter?

Then, develop some healthy doubt. Lead with it. Insist to yourself that you take a step to validate it, whatever “it” is, before sharing it further.

Pause for a nanosecond and ask the question… Is what I’m seeing, reading, hearing too outrageous to be true? Did someone just maybe make it up to serve an agenda? To press a button?

The buttons are getting bigger, they’re more accessible, and they’re easier to push.

I hate to take a swing at the internet and social media. I’m clearly a user and mostly a fan. Although, I do think we’re still figuring it all out.

It’s more than that, however. The equation is far more complex. Those are only two of the variables.

Just like a monkey with a button… punching it to see what happens.

Yes, like I’m doing here.

I’m not immune.

May the good side be with you.

 

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*About the evening news… If you’ve got to watch, and I’ll admit it—I do, try not exceed the maximum daily allowance of one 30-minute national plus one 30-minute local news segment. It’s easier to swallow that way.