Excaliber wrote:
This is true.
If one takes the opportunity to compound another's rudeness and lack of character into a response that could best be described as felony stupid through lack of self control, he's likely to be the one to take the ride.
His day probably won't be improved by seeing the instigator laughing uproariously as he's being driven away in the squad.
There's a lot to be said for a silent response of "Whatever" and carrying on as a preferred tactic for such situations.
If you watch any hockey, you can see that this true in sport, too. Instigators seldom go to the penalty box for their deeds. Retaliators always do.
I have to admit that this has been a weak area for me. I think that we, as a society, have become a whole lot more tolerant of rude behavior and downright mean spirited acts than we should be. I have reminded people who were holding up checkout lines while talking on their phones that others would prefer that they finish their phone calls AFTER they checkout. That same mentality as caused me to challenge others for similar rudeness in other situations.
Now, I could be put in the "whatever" column. As bad as dealing with the rude behavior is, I don't need the negative reaction that almost always results from challenging it as an "enhancement" to my days. Those who behave this way are just as likely to escalate the matter if you call them on it. Whatever motivated them to act unreasonably in the first place seems to kick in on steroids afterwards. My guess is that these some of these same folks are road ragers behind the wheel of a car.