Two days ago I had a little fit. Just a little one. It was the usual: "What the F is wrong with people." Yep, my usual refrain that my poor husband has to hear too frequently. I am constantly flabbergasted at the behaviour that people display and hope that I do not also show this rude/careless/mean spirited self very often. Because, really, no one deserves it.
I do community organizing as a part time gig. I love it. I enjoy 99% of what I do for our community. It is a national program, it has good components, I offer great resources, I listen, I am helpful...
And I do it all for very little money and a lot of time.
But I do it because I believe in it. I believe that raising all boats makes the world a better place. I believe having an advocate helps people have a voice. I believe that our organization can give meaning and make people generally happier about the work they do every day.
But then there is this one guy.
You knew there was that guy.
And that guy isn't one guy, it is one person on any given day that doesn't get what I am doing and has to be rude about it in a public way.
That drives me crazy.
I am FINE with you not liking me, not liking the organization, not wanting to be part of it, not being interested, not caring, not getting it - fine with that. In fact, I won't pester you to join. I won't bother with you after you have told me you aren't interested. Really.
But when you send a blanket email out to the whole group about something I did not being up to your standard, well, I get angry.
How COULD You have handled that? You could have called me. You could email me directly. You could come to the monthly open meetings that I hold. You could talk to any one of our volunteers. You could have shut up. But no... you needed to be mean.
And that is what drives me crazy.
My husband says we are all the Ice Skating judge - we have to have a comment or critique the amazing jumps, flips and costumes - like we could do it better.
My question is why? Why are we becoming a people who complains but doesn't do anything. Critiques, but doesn't help out. Is rude, but doesn't understand that people are receiving those words.
What happened to us? And what are we doing to reverse the trend?
Flickr Photo: Shifted Librarian
