Over
the years, I’ve grown more and more fond of this…
“People
that don’t get it, don’t get that they don’t get it.”
It
perfectly summarizes things.
In
general terms, it provides a blanket statement about ignorance.
Not because people don’t recognize what they’re doing or have
a grasp of it in general… more to the point they have little to
no understanding of their actions and how they impact upon others
and/or the stupidity of them
For
specific terms, you may need to step back and look over the situation
involved, but the blinders are most definitely still on.
A
very large percentage of your annoying co-workers, I believe,
don’t realize they’re annoying co-workers.
People
using chainsaws while standing on ladders and leaning way out
to catch the branch that’s thisclosetothem when they stretch,
I know as a fact, don’t realize they should have the car ready
with a driver aware of the shortest route to the emergency room.
We
can all agree personalities and ridiculous use of tools are specifics
where the underlying actions and impulses come from totally different
places. Lack of understanding is still involved in both.
There
are all sorts of humorous (and not so humorous) examples where
people should have checked out the scenery in front of them, given
sound and purposeful thought to their actions ahead of taking
that first step, and realized holding off on putting plans into
motion might just be for the best. (And we’ll come back around
to this.) For me though, I think the most annoying is when an
individual or group violates the written and unwritten codes of
conduct that fall under the umbrella of common areas.
Most
of us understand the concept of a common area. If we’re in your
place of residence, it refers to living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms,
and all of the places used by multiple people.
Written
guidelines exist in locations such as the workplace… where the
sights, sounds, smells and more may need formal declaration.
Unwritten
guidelines though are unwritten because… well… just because. (Or,
more accurately, because we don’t all feel the need for written
roommate agreements outlining every little detail of daily activity.)
The
reason such becomes so annoying is that violations often have
at their foundation a lack of respect for others and a lack of
responsibility for one’s actions.
Which
in turn leads us back to the opening of this essay…
“People
that don’t get it, don’t get that they don’t get it.”
(As
promised, this brings us into that realm of sound and purposeful
thought.)
I
was reading an article the other day that discussed how the actions
of people living in one house of a neighborhood were disturbing
many of the residents in other houses. Of the many examples cited,
making noise early on weekend mornings seemed the most important
and annoying. (With lawn mowers, chainsaws, and other engines
being applied to yardwork around 7am.)
When
I was growing up, I recall consideration being afforded to the
people living near you that didn’t need to be stated. There was
no movement to start cutting the grass or begin trimming trees
around the moment the first rays of sunshine were reaching your
yard, especially on a day of rest. That carries with me today…
when quite often I’ll glance at the clock before heading to the
garage to fill the gas tank on my lawn mower and then move on
to the yard.
Most
of us recognize that a lawn mower running at 7am on a Saturday
morning in an unwelcome noise. But…
What
if you live on a large tract of land… and there are no neighbors
to hear most of your equipment?
What
if you live your life up before dawn… where what others may consider
early is actually deep into your day?
What
if your work schedule, and potentially the work schedules of those
assisting you in a project, creates a limited window of opportunity
for approaching the job?
Awareness
is the missing key. But I suppose that’s a bit too easy (and perhaps
overly simple).
(Or
is it?)
Many
years ago I recall getting a pretty great piece of advice. Shortened
a bit…
Any
offer should be just as valid tomorrow as it is today.
Every
rule has its exceptions. This concept holds true to that… where
all of us can think of moments where immediate action or response
could be necessary.
And
yet… one of the most basic ways for overcoming naïve and
reckless and foolish actions can be just a bit of thought. Taking
a step back, looking things over, and acting on them a day or
two later (or, with a bit of recognition for surroundings, and
just maybe for the action-reaction progression of the world).
Yes,
some people could be described in amazingly unflattering terms
that indicate they are not just idiots, but have no regard for
those in the crosshairs of their actions.
In
many cases though, I wonder if we all need to recognize just a
bit more about personal accountability. Not because naïve
approaches or intent can offer an excuse… rather that awareness
word again.
Remember
that game as a child?
“I
know” – “I know you know, but do you
know I know you know?” – “I knew.
But did you know I knew you knew I knew?”
Some
people don’t get it. Few people seem to get that they don’t get
it. And therein lies our destination for this journey, and, a
full arrival at awareness.
I
refuse to stand in the way of acting impulsively or spontaneously
or more. Occasionally we all need those moments of excitement…
we need to find and experience unexpected treasures… we need to
step out of comfort zones and attempt something new. Got it… love
it… applaud it.
Hopefully
though… along the adventures of a lifetime… we can walk the path
with an appreciation for what each of us, and those around us,
may or may not have to offer. And in applying that appreciation,
realize that what we know isn’t always what they know.