Do As I Say, Not As I Do
Why is it that a good portion of the population feels the need to "give advice" to people that they don't even know? Yesterday, I had a complete stranger come up to me and inform me of certain health risks associated with my personal habits. I stated to this good samaritan that I have never met them before, and they are entitled to their personal opinion. At which point she told me I was not setting a good example for children. (I suppose teaching youngsters to advance on adult strangers, to tell them what they should do with their lives, sets a much better example.) I did not seek this person out and try to push my personal beliefs on them, and would only expect a reciprocation of the same respect. After all, she went out of her way to approach me. I am willing to bet that in some aspect of her life, she partakes in something I would find objectionable, but that is her right. It is not my place to comment on things that do not affect me directly. We all make decisions that have consequences in our lives everyday, and only we are responsible for the outcome.
posted by JK at 2:01 PM
2 Comments:
Hey - you do know that smoking's bad for you health? Your choices are polluting my air and endangering my life! *She prances away in a huff and climbs into her Escalade, pulls out of parking lot recklessly while chatting on her cell phone*
Frankly, I think it's all about power. I don't doubt that we all need to feel that we're superior to somebody. These days it's easy to take potshots at smokers. Generally, though, I try to fight back by slinging barbs at gas-guzzlers. I've been able to easily quit driving a Chevy Blazer. Quitting smoking? Much, much more difficult.
I'm assuming that it's smoking to which you refer. After all, is there any other habit/lifestyle that seems to invoke random criticism with full societal approval? It's okay to be out of shape. It's okay to be lazy, selfish, rude. Hell, even a full-fledged addiction to smack can be accepted (accompanied, of course, with a torrent of pity). But smoking? Unforgivable!
Kind of makes the phrase "butt out!" take on new meaning, huh?
-Jen
Jen,
I couldn't agree more. Thanks for reading.
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