Courtesy is extremely alluring to me, even in story or real life. Rudeness I’ve always found repellent.
I try very hard not to be rude myself. I don’t want the rudeness in the world to grow, swelled by my own.
At the same time, it’s very hard not to respond in kind. I find myself visualize doing all sorts of impossible things in retaliation.
I walk straight through the rude people, causing them to shudder with cold or share my hot flashes. My target feels my anger, like a blow.
I imagine the rude person changing into a form that reflects their particular lack of manners; such as a pig, a slug, or a muskrat.
I imagine the car they’ve used to nearly kill me with, telling them what an idiot they are to bully everyone on the road, pointing out they’ve only gotten a little further ahead of everyone. This is if I’m feeling charitable. Sometimes I picture the car rising into the air and shaking the driver, hard.
Sometimes I visualize telekinetically shoving the rude out of my way, forcing them to give me space, to keep their distance.
These are some intial reactions. A moment later, I may come up with a story as to why they’re rude.
They’re racing to get to an appointment their life depends upon. They have a short time to get to their cubicle, or an alien supervisor in human form will drain their life away. They’ve got an urgent meeting with the doctor. They’re in pain they cannot suppress, so they lash out at everyone around them.
Something is so critical, they disregard me. I’m always disregarded in favor of whatever drove them to be rude.
This makes me very resentful. I should at least get a story or a poem out of them.
How about you, dear reader? Have you found creative ways of coping with rudeness?