2012-27: Respect
Dear all,
After reading this from author and semi-twitter buddy Sarah Cawkwell, and after putting up with some rather bizarre behaviour over the last 48 hours I feel moved to write this:
All I want is to be treated with some respect. That’s all. That and some consideration. That’s all, some consideration and respect. And decency. I want to be treated with three things: Respect, consideration, and decency. And courtesy. I want to be treated – I’ll come in again.
Respect, consideration, decency, and courtesy.
It’s not hard. It’s not trying. It’s not going to take much out of one’s day.
For example: Instead of shouting across the room ‘Why are there three people performing this task, when two will do?’ (I paraphrase, and the task is one I’m doing) why not take me onto one side and ask, quietly ‘Why are you doing this when there’s only enough for two?’ – then at least I can explain to you in simple terms that you haven’t considered the backlog of work from the day before.
For example: Instead of handing out all the payslips to each person in turn and then give mine to someone else – thus managing to confirm my opinion that you have an issue with me and can’t get past it – give it to me directly and smile. You’ll feel better, I’m sure.
For example: Instead of arranging something that might require me to chip in some cash without asking when is convenient for me, or either whether I even want to – why don’t you ask those things prior to arrangements being made?
For example: If you don’t like the way you’re being spoken to by someone, don’t take it out on me.
For example: Just because it pisses me off that people don’t clean my desk after the night shift – it gives me the right to complain about it. I will not, however, leave my desk in a disorderly state.
See, I obey the golden rule. I try to apply the golden rule to everyday life. I think the golden rule is something we should aspire to, and not something we should sneer at by saying such ridiculous things as ‘Well, I’ll respect you if you respect me.’ Respect is a two way street, and if one reneges on your side of the deal – it’s never going to work. At all!
Our society (in this country) seems to be skewed in favour of selfishness, and litigation. Now I concede that this is not countrywide – and a complete generalisation – and there are pockets of greatness in this area; but it is a concern of mine that unless some radical action – revolution, if you will – that we will slowly slide towards a society of individualists linked by nothing but our Facebook profiles. We’re forgetting the lessons we were taught by history – and consequently we may be doomed to repeat those mistakes.
A smile, a thank you, a please, a kind word – it’s not much to ask, it is?
