Just an overall blah day...

 I live in NJ where we just got slammed by a hurricane. Luckily, my property didn't sustain any major damage; just some fall limbs here and there.  I worked from home the past 2 days and during those 2 days I saw the best and the worst in people.

My job is IT support for a large retailer's 5 distribution centers. We have 2 in NV, 1 in PA, 1 in SC and 2 in the UK. My primary responsibility are the ones in NV and PA.

Anyway, while my house and surrounding areas were getting pummelled by 80mph winds and relentless amounts of rain, i was working on emails for issues people were having at the warehouses. Some were respectful enough to understand my mind was elsewhere, while others weren't. I would get an email at 9:15 am about an issue they were having and if I didnt respond fast enough let's say by 9:30, they would get nasty with me. I love my job and a majority of the people I work with, but that is the only thing that bothers me - unnecessary neediness and selfishness. Certain people (Its always the same ones) think their issues are higher priority than others. Most of the time, there issues are simple enough if they took the time to figure it out instead of waving the white flag right away. I felt like writing back - "Sorry, I am in the middle of a hurricane, but because your email signature isn't showing, I better get right on it."

Don't get me wrong, I am not this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfKL6RM8hsY

But, when im in the middle of hurricane, I get a little testy :)

Not only selfishness at work, but overall people in general. For example, I have a family member that loves going to broadway shows. Her facebook is filled with posts. That is all she talks about. Her latest status update was complaining that she might have to drive in to the city and see a show this weekend if the subways aren't running.  I am sorry, but there are millions of people without power and thousands where they don't even have a home anymore and her main concern is a stinkin broadway show?!

This is the first real natural disaster I have endured in my lifetime and I think it has changed my outlook on life.

I know this isn't UC related, but I find comfort in talking to you guys about things. Thanks for letting me vent.

Post Edited (turtlepower) : 10/31/2012 7:33:30 AM (GMT-6)

I can relate to what you wrote, but please don't let the ba******s get you down!

Our culture is becoming more and more self-centered. I notice it everywhere...from the grocery store to the traffic light, even to the kids on the school bus that I drive. So many people have such an overinflated sense of entitlement these days...it's all about them.

Maybe I'm at an age (almost 57) where I can let it go. It used to make me "crazy", but not anymore. Now, instead of worrying about what everybody says, thinks and does, I take care of myself first...and, with what I have left over, I help others.

I don't think you can ask for much more.  

From my obsrvations, more and more people today devalue others and value their electronic devices, clothes, cars, houses, artificial looks and overall material goods much more. There has been a general devaluation of of human life other than theirs. Their priorities center aound them "feeling good", and they are very intolerant of anything that makes them "not feel good"...i.e. not having their customer service issue resolved immediately (re: turtlepower), any "perceived injustice" they might encounter...or just waiting their turn, whether at a Stop sign on the road or the local grocery store check out. I forget what generation was called "the me generation", but they had nothing on many Americans today. Today, many Americans have a general disdain for their fellow citizens, neighbors, coworkers, whatever, and an increased sense of "I am more important than you". That is entitlement at it's height.

Post Edited (hineycase) : 10/31/2012 4:37:42 PM (GMT-6)

As far as your nieces, there was a man in Ireland during the 1800's by the name of Edmund Rice who worked closely with rough children teaching them in hedge schools (schools around the countryside since the English outlawed education for Catholics) who once said to his followers (like-minded men who followed his ways): "Have faith, the good seed will grow in the children later on." If you are doing the right thing by your neices by word and example, even though they are typical teenagers pulled in many ways by our society, it will have an influence on them and "the good seed will grow." (http://edmundrice.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128:the-life-of-edmund-rice-&catid=60:edrice-lives&directory=298)

I guess for me when I started to look into the eyes of elderly people and realize they were once a child, a teenager, my age, etc....and despite their aged looks, they are no different from me, I started to relate to them as people and not old people. I started to look at the world differently. Another thing that definitely helped was getting out of the rat race. I now live in the country and work a very simple job that I like. These two things have made me look at the world differently. I believe most people are clueless about life, so wrapped up in themselves and their pleasures, but I once was in the same boat as them. No one could change me; I had to change myself. I no longer try to change the world.

Post Edited (hineycase) : 11/1/2012 10:30:49 AM (GMT-6)