In our society of snoops and busybodies who think it is their right to demand information from you which is in truth absolutely none of their business, the urge to decide whether someone else "needs" something is widespread. Closely related to this is the practice, once considered to be very rude, of asking what something cost. This is usually in preparation for informing you that it "isn't worth it" and implying that you are an idiot for paying so much because they got a ------- at Walmart for 12.95 and it is just as good. Busse hogs are surely familiar with this syndrome.
Getting old is very liberating in a way. One of the things you learn is that the mere fact that someone asks a question (unless it's Kathy, an LEO, or the IRS) puts one under absolutely no obligation to answer it. However, it is not possible to avoid being rude to some people. Some people feel that it is their right to pompously demand info of you, whatever and whenever they choose, often followed by a passing of judgment on you as if their opinion should be the controlling factor in your life. I am sitting in a local sandwich shop when one of these whom I have casually met before walks up with a pompous demeanor and loudly demands (not politely asks) "Where's Kim?" Now it happens that Kim is at home alone, a bit of information I am not about to divulge to a near-stranger. I answer "She's not with me today." "Yeah, but where is she?" he demands. Now we are squarely in the none of his business area. I reply the same as I did the first time, very pointedly. But he feels it is his right to know anything he wants and is getting frustrated by my refusal to comply. So he demands again, even louder. "If it was any of your business I would have already told you." I finally had to reply. He stomps away.
It is not my nature to be rude. but I have to admit that at times it gives a certain guilty pleasure.
Getting old is very liberating in a way. One of the things you learn is that the mere fact that someone asks a question (unless it's Kathy, an LEO, or the IRS) puts one under absolutely no obligation to answer it. However, it is not possible to avoid being rude to some people. Some people feel that it is their right to pompously demand info of you, whatever and whenever they choose, often followed by a passing of judgment on you as if their opinion should be the controlling factor in your life. I am sitting in a local sandwich shop when one of these whom I have casually met before walks up with a pompous demeanor and loudly demands (not politely asks) "Where's Kim?" Now it happens that Kim is at home alone, a bit of information I am not about to divulge to a near-stranger. I answer "She's not with me today." "Yeah, but where is she?" he demands. Now we are squarely in the none of his business area. I reply the same as I did the first time, very pointedly. But he feels it is his right to know anything he wants and is getting frustrated by my refusal to comply. So he demands again, even louder. "If it was any of your business I would have already told you." I finally had to reply. He stomps away.
It is not my nature to be rude. but I have to admit that at times it gives a certain guilty pleasure.
