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How many times in your life have you had to deal with some jerkwad who seemed to take delight in your misfortune? Why do people seem to take so much enjoyment in looking down on somebody, even for the littlest thing? Are people really this shallow and pathetic that they will look for any excuse to laugh at another person's misfortune?
You make the call.
Actually, I'll make the call. The answer is "Yes".
Since I'm having so much trouble with the old phone lines at the new place I moved into, I got a pay-as-you-go cellphone and decided to re-activate my pager so I could have voicemail. I went down to a very well-known brand name store and was greeted by a smiling pretty girl.
"Can I help you?" she asked sweetly.
"I need to activate my pager."
She laughed slightly, like someone trying not to offend a simple child. She told me - in a tone that made me feel like I should be wearing a helmet - that they don't do pagers here, only cellphones. She asked a nearby salesman who made a little snort like this was the stupidest request he'd had all day, and he barely lifted his head to look at me when told me that it had been at least three years since they handled pagers.
Oh - excuse me. Since I come in here every NEVER I guess I should know exactly what your business does. Is it really such a far cry to think that a wireless communications business might handle pagers? It's not like I'm Ogg from the Low Country and I came in looking to get connection service for my new wireless rock! It's a pager - same basic technology as a cellphone. You assign me a phone number, and people call me and leave messages. Kind of like how that guy who fixed my ignition also sells tires.
The kicker is that I mounted my ox... I mean, I got in my car, and I drove about four miles to their next store - AND THEY HANDLE PAGERS!! NO PROBLEM!!
Am I a little annoyed that some bimbo who can barely handle a job directing customers in a one-room store laughed at me? No. I'm annoyed that people really seem to take delight in seeing others fail. Someone slips on the sidewalk, you laugh. Someone gets pulled over by the cops, you're happy it's them and not you. Someone is on the brink of success... and you want them to fail.
It's a harsh reality that we all must face. I think that a lot of you (okay, me, too) want so desperately to make their big dreams come true because you want to "show them". Since we all don't have telekinetic powers like Carey, we've decided to "show them" by achieving great success and doing amazing things. One of the biggest obstacles that we must face is... well... "them". It's always been them, and it will always be them. Even if they're not here, they're with you.
Be better than "them". Be you. |
