tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post7790558160467559656..comments2024-03-18T10:29:46.055+00:00Comments on Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff: Pick It Up, SunshineKen Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-32703792085680308952012-07-09T10:26:51.194+01:002012-07-09T10:26:51.194+01:00Oh yes; I am all for being polite but I do like a ...Oh yes; I am all for being polite but I do like a smile or a wave of acknowledgement. If someone lets me into a queue of traffic I always flash my hazard lights to say thank you. I'm with MummaDoc on vociferously pointing out to a recipient of any of my kindnesses that they've failed to match up to my fairly humble expectations. That & a heavy foot on the accelerator as I'm only little & scare easily! ;)Karen Redmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368078023802765569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-50479629436385302292012-07-08T23:35:15.234+01:002012-07-08T23:35:15.234+01:00Hi Hope, I like your story about the old gent and ...Hi Hope, I like your story about the old gent and the door. You handled that pretty darned well. :)<br /><br />Mummadoc: You're the sanest person I know. I hear you.Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-69144795932944397612012-07-08T22:33:12.443+01:002012-07-08T22:33:12.443+01:00Completely and utterly identified with this, Ken. ...Completely and utterly identified with this, Ken. But I think your conclusion is wrong. You're RIGHT to be annoyed if someone won't acknowledge a kindness. They are wrong. And to stop performing acts of kindness because some people are wrong, would be wrong, and a backward step for humankind. If you see what I mean. <br /><br />I suggest you do what I do. Wind the window down and shout 'Aren't you even going to say 'thank you' you ignorant f**cking f**cker?!' <br /><br />Then hit the gas.MummaDocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-1709997830134484412012-07-08T18:31:34.368+01:002012-07-08T18:31:34.368+01:00Like you, I tend to be more of a "giver"...Like you, I tend to be more of a "giver" than a "taker". I think it's only human to be kind to a stranger, then feel a bit disappointed when they appear to think the world owes them the easy way through life.<br /><br />But I was raised a girl...in the south. We're not allowed to hurt people's feelings. Or so I hear. :) I look at it this way: a case of taking the higher road and not coming down to the level of souls who can't see anyone else in the world but themselves.<br /><br />That said, you do have to be careful in the south if you try to hold a door for a gentleman of a certain age...say old enough to be your Dad or Grandpa. I did so once for an older man (who looked about 95) because I was taught to look behind me before letting a door go in public and besides, the door weighed a ton without the wind that was blowing. He went through, then grimaced at me. I have no idea why, except for preserving his dignity, I said sweetly,"Didn't you hear? It's be nice to gentlemen day!"<br /><br />He laughed all the way down the hall, mumbling he had something to tell the wife.<br /><br />So I continue to be kind in his honor...because you never know when a simple act of kindness might've helped someone turn a good corner in life.<br /><br />If you stopped for me, I would smile AND wave thanks. :)hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03306622656461205674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-89635850945289373032012-07-08T17:55:54.828+01:002012-07-08T17:55:54.828+01:00Ah Jim, when I'm on the same page as you, I al...Ah Jim, when I'm on the same page as you, I always feel I'm doing okay. Thanks.Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-83122868437437871372012-07-08T17:30:27.320+01:002012-07-08T17:30:27.320+01:00I think altruism is a great idea. That said I don’...I think altruism is a great idea. That said I don’t believe that humans are capable of it. We fake it, we smile in the face of adversity, but, as you demonstrated here, we all expect a little something back. I don’t drive anymore. I do, however, hold doors open for little old ladies, pretty young ladies, middles-aged ladies… basically anyone who appears even vaguely female-looking and any frail old man who looks as if he might not have the strength to even open the door himself. I am happy to do so and all I am looking for in return is a smile. Even eye contact will do. A verbal acknowledgement is a bonus but I hate those women who simply breenge through without paying me a blind bit of attention. That’s just plain rude. I don’t get it. I am a nice person. I have no doubts that I am a nice person but every now and then it behoves me to just double check. And so I hold door open and say, “Ladies first.” (Little girls get a particualr kick out of this and generally scurry through giggling.) Little old men I find are invariably civil.<br /><br />I have yet to give in to the urge to call out (or even mumble to myself), “Manners cost nothing,” but believe you me the urge is strong. So I know <i>exactly</i> where you’re coming from here. Of course they can argue that they didn’t ask me to hold the door for them and so are under no obligation to me. That’s like saying to your mum that you didn’t ask to be born. Tried that once. Learned my lesson. I didn’t ask her to clout me either. <br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-20821857196493439802012-07-08T13:45:06.458+01:002012-07-08T13:45:06.458+01:00Haha. Now I know one person has read it. :)Haha. Now I know one person has read it. :)Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-64928451933861601352012-07-08T13:03:21.036+01:002012-07-08T13:03:21.036+01:00Um, thank you for writing this blog.
WillkmUm, thank you for writing this blog. <br /><br />WillkmWilliam Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315381474957511300noreply@blogger.com