Comments on: Mean People Suck

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 16:06:43 +0000

Marty, I don’t envy you working at a school. I do agree that it does all begin at home. My mother would’ve killed me, if I behaved like some of the people I’ve encountered.

Pirate, That’s a good one. I’ll have to remember to ask for their business card. LOL! I’ve known a few flight attendants that have used this approach.

Dream, LOL! My favorite saying on the airplane when someone was yelling at me used to be, “I do not have the temperament to stand here and allow you to continue yelling at me.” This was said with a very low and calm voice. It was always interesting to tick off the seconds until they registered what I’d said. In EVERY case, they dropped their voice and stepped back.

Trace, That’s an interesting take on the subject. I have also wondered if the case wasn’t that the subject matter hit too close to home.

Chey, I don’t think it’s too late for you. You just need to get out of that shell a little. I know you have it in you. (wg)

By: Cece

Cece — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 15:55:03 +0000

Chey–of course not!

Jordan, no of course we’re not sorry =)

Marty I’m one of those old fashioned mother’s who wont tolerate bad manners

By: Cheyenne McCray

Cheyenne McCray — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:19:55 +0000

Mean people do suck. And I envy those of you who have answers on the tip of your tongues to get your point across and not be walked on. One of my biggest wishes is to be able to have snappy comebacks! I’m a few months shy of 40. Is it too late for me?

By: Trace

Trace — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:16:08 +0000

I worked in a book store for a while and I had many regulars who loved my recommendations. But one day I recommended a really good book to a guy who wanted to know about criminal profiling. I handed him one of John Douglas’ books, which is really phenomenal.

The guy came back a couple of days later ranting and raving. He’d had a really visceral reaction to it. I came close to offering to exchange the book, since it was a used book store, but then didn’t. He was such a jack-ass and he wanted to argue with me. Basically called me an idiot for recommending the book because he wasted his money on it.

I finally found out that he’d gone through a lot the same kind of abuse that many of the criminals in the book had, and he was outraged that Douglas ‘implied’ that he’d become a serial killer or something.

In my book, he wasn’t exactly acting rationally. Sometimes it’s all about the person freaking out. Not about the writer. They may see something in the writing that reminds them of themselves and they don’t like it.

Nothing anyone can do about it. *Shrug*

By: Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 04:40:48 +0000

I’ve got bad news for you, Jordan–as you get older, that small gap between what you think & what you say gets even smaller…

I’ve been in a customer service job for about 18 years. Courtesy is dead. Trust me. I usually recommend taking the high road–but that doesn’t mean getting stepped on. I’ve been nice enough to tell someone “I’d appreciate you respecting my feelings as much as I respect your opinion.”
Have also been known to reply, “I don’t get paid to be abused. Take your opinion & shove it up your ass.”
So much for that gap…

By: Pirate

Pirate — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 23:38:14 +0000

Excellent points. I would imagine why most people would confront an author out of spite is because of their failures they’re hiding behind. It would seem most people who would confront an author haven’t written anything themsleves.

When I see someone acting the fool and treating others poorly I ask for their business card in a polite manner. When in hand I tell them I will be contacting their boss and tell them what I think of the way they treat others in public. It usually knee caps them right there.

By: Marty K

Marty K — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 23:21:40 +0000

I work at a college, and have gone from working with non-traditional (older) students, who actually say please and thank you, to those right out of HS. Can anyone say “home training”? Stick to your guns–you teach people how to treat you.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 22:28:19 +0000

Cece, I think you’re right about the internet playing a big part in the growing trend of bad behavior. It’s a pity really, considering how many people it brings together.

You can thank my dh for coming up with the hide and go f*ck yourself comment. Whoever originally came up with the saying is brilliant. LOL!

I also don’t think an apology is the appropriate response. Are we really sorry we wrote our book? Hell no! I have a horrible habit of apologizing for everything, so I’m going to have to make a concerted effort to NOT do that if the situation arises.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 22:21:56 +0000

Jill, LOL on the flogging and the stocks. You forgot drawn and quartered. (evil grin) I didn’t mean to give you the impression I would get in someone’s face. It would take a lot to get me to that point. I’m more likely to respond with, “My book’s not for everyone, but how mean of you to say.” I’ve found with flying that you can say most anything to people as long as you keep a smile pasted to your face and follow it with, “Have a nice day, bu-bye.”

By: Cece

Cece — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 21:22:02 +0000

And unfortunately the internet is a license for stupidity. I know one bestselling author who wont have a message board for this reason–it’s giving someone the green light to behave badly and SOMEONE will.

I’m howling at hide and go f%ck yourself Jordan. Gonna have to jot that one down =)

I’m sorry it wasn’t to your taste, comes to mind but at the same time I don’t think we should have to apologize because someone didn’t like something we wrote. It’s like apologizing for breathing.