I wonder...
Mar. 8th, 2010 05:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
coffeesnob318...many things. Here are a few:
1. I wonder what people are thinking when they drive 10+ miles per hour under the speed limit. This fascinates me. Are they oblivious? Did they not see the three signs we just passed which declared the speed limit? I can understand one or two mph under, but ten? If they are so distracted, perhaps they should pull over until they can give driving the attention it warrants. And as unnerving as oblivion is, it's better than the other option - just basic rudeness. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, it's not a life-changer. So it takes me twenty minutes to get across town rather than ten. Except that that extra ten minutes probably makes me late, forcing me to be rude to the people who are waiting on me, and I hate being that person.
Someone pointed out that they probably aren't meaning to be rude - that they're probably just moseying along, seeing the sights. To this I must reply that 1) could they not better see the sights on foot? You know...out of my way...off my road? And 2) just because their intention is neutral, that does not mean that their behavior automatically is. It's a rude thing to do whether they mean for it to be rude or not. Besides, if someone points out (never mind the finger one might use to point...another post for another day) that their behavior is displeasing, and they continue to do it anyway, I'm not sure I'm buying that their intentions in that scenario are indeed neutral. Smells like passive aggression to me.
2. I wonder how someone so small as a baby can make so much noise. Or so much poop.
3. I wonder if there is a particular gene that makes people lovable and if God forgets to give it to some people. I also wonder if I'm one of those people. I mean, God has allowed far worse things than living one's whole life alone to happen to his followers, even those who are in his favor (can you tell I'm reading Job?). What right do I have to expect any different? One might even argue that I'm getting off easy. I'm not that one, just to be clear. I'm just saying that's an argument that one (horrible, hateful, vile) person might make.
4. I wonder how something so beautifully written can put me to sleep so easily. Oh, Charles Dickens. What enchanting prose. So lovely. So soothing. So *snores* Now I remember why I never managed to finish any book of his that I was ever required to read - there just wasn't time with all the napping that it inspired.
5. I wonder how they train waitstaff these days. Do they still teach them basic interaction skills? These aren't difficult skills to learn - it basically boils down to observing as you approach so that you can enter the conversation smoothly and say what you've come to say, listening and responding appropriately while you're there, and paying attention to cues that your part of the conversation is over (or not over - some guests want to chat more than others - of course, I would only expect this of experienced staff - others might be too nervous). Because the staff we had yesterday at Olive Garden fell sadly short on said skills. And this is not an isolated event or limited to that particular restaurant. It seems to be the norm lately. There we were, having a nice meal and nice conversation. Hannah was mid-sentence when suddenly "More water?!" was being barked at me in a Tourettes-esque fashion from across the table. It was jarring. And our waiter wasn't much better. He seemed to want to move everything along very quickly and could not seem to get away from us fast enough. Am I being too picky?
1. I wonder what people are thinking when they drive 10+ miles per hour under the speed limit. This fascinates me. Are they oblivious? Did they not see the three signs we just passed which declared the speed limit? I can understand one or two mph under, but ten? If they are so distracted, perhaps they should pull over until they can give driving the attention it warrants. And as unnerving as oblivion is, it's better than the other option - just basic rudeness. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, it's not a life-changer. So it takes me twenty minutes to get across town rather than ten. Except that that extra ten minutes probably makes me late, forcing me to be rude to the people who are waiting on me, and I hate being that person.
Someone pointed out that they probably aren't meaning to be rude - that they're probably just moseying along, seeing the sights. To this I must reply that 1) could they not better see the sights on foot? You know...out of my way...off my road? And 2) just because their intention is neutral, that does not mean that their behavior automatically is. It's a rude thing to do whether they mean for it to be rude or not. Besides, if someone points out (never mind the finger one might use to point...another post for another day) that their behavior is displeasing, and they continue to do it anyway, I'm not sure I'm buying that their intentions in that scenario are indeed neutral. Smells like passive aggression to me.
2. I wonder how someone so small as a baby can make so much noise. Or so much poop.
3. I wonder if there is a particular gene that makes people lovable and if God forgets to give it to some people. I also wonder if I'm one of those people. I mean, God has allowed far worse things than living one's whole life alone to happen to his followers, even those who are in his favor (can you tell I'm reading Job?). What right do I have to expect any different? One might even argue that I'm getting off easy. I'm not that one, just to be clear. I'm just saying that's an argument that one (horrible, hateful, vile) person might make.
4. I wonder how something so beautifully written can put me to sleep so easily. Oh, Charles Dickens. What enchanting prose. So lovely. So soothing. So *snores* Now I remember why I never managed to finish any book of his that I was ever required to read - there just wasn't time with all the napping that it inspired.
5. I wonder how they train waitstaff these days. Do they still teach them basic interaction skills? These aren't difficult skills to learn - it basically boils down to observing as you approach so that you can enter the conversation smoothly and say what you've come to say, listening and responding appropriately while you're there, and paying attention to cues that your part of the conversation is over (or not over - some guests want to chat more than others - of course, I would only expect this of experienced staff - others might be too nervous). Because the staff we had yesterday at Olive Garden fell sadly short on said skills. And this is not an isolated event or limited to that particular restaurant. It seems to be the norm lately. There we were, having a nice meal and nice conversation. Hannah was mid-sentence when suddenly "More water?!" was being barked at me in a Tourettes-esque fashion from across the table. It was jarring. And our waiter wasn't much better. He seemed to want to move everything along very quickly and could not seem to get away from us fast enough. Am I being too picky?
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no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 01:24 pm (UTC)For the most part I attempt to drive the speed limit, and not too far under or over. My driving instructor told me that people who drive too fast or too slow impede the flow of traffic and are more likely to cause accidents. Someone driving too slow might think they are being safe, but really what happens is the other drivers around them end up making more lane changes to pass the slow drivers and some drivers get impatient and cause accidents trying to get around those who are driving too slow.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 09:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 03:14 pm (UTC)2. I wonder this every day. Especially the poop part. If I can get through an entire day without a poop volcano, its a good day.......
3. I think its society--too many people are being raised to be selfish and self-centered and mean and so it really narrows down the partner pool. Makes it hard for you to find someone worthy of you!!
4. heeeheeeeheeee.....I've read several all the way through but there are a few that I can't make it through more than a few pages.....
5. My biggest waitstaff pet peeve is the waiting until you have your mouth full to ask you if you need anything/is everything okay. Since I have manners, I can't answer with my mouth full of food. hrrruuummmpphh. I also hate it when they never fill your water glass up. I often want to tell them that, yes, I really will drink ten glasses of water so stop judging me and fill that sucker up again. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 09:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 01:46 am (UTC)3 - I'm reminded of a youth group leader I had in jr. high and/or high school. She was near 40, and told us girls about being angry at God about being single. I was like, man, I hope that doesn't happen to me. AAAAAAND here I am, a few years short but still like um, hello? She eventually did get married (yay for her) but I still feel kind of ARGH.
4 - I got about 60 pages into Our Mutual Friend before I gave up. Listened to Bleak House (abridged) on audiobook; it got quite entertaining the second half. Just started watching the BBC/Masterpiece Theater production of Little Dorrit. It has about 8 plot lines going on that I know will converge eventually, which I know would have killed me if I tried to read it.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 09:13 am (UTC)3. Yeah, I'm also not a fan of the "I eventually got married" stories. Like Sarah and Abraham "eventually" had a son. When they were too old to really enjoy it. They probably died without seeing him grown. That's not a happy ending to me. I don't want someone who shows up just in time to hold my hand on my deathbed. I want someone to share a home and a bed and a life with now.
4. Great Expectations will surely be the death of me. Either that, or it will force me to get the rest I need.