I know that I've talked about manners (actually, the lack thereof) in the recent past, and it seemed to generate a healthy response from others in agreement. Since then, I've been on general "people-watch," not only during my travels afar, but around town and during my usual commuting as well. What I've noticed is a shortage of niceness, even less patience, and basically a widespread decrease in people's understanding of others. By no means is any of this in epidemic proportion, but still, for a once self-admitted selfish soul to stop and take notice of others, well, I think it's worth mentioning.
I obviously learned the hard way some time ago that it's easier to be nice, patient, and especially understanding if you want to be treated likewise. As the gray hairs are becoming more and more evident (soon to be predominant, I'm sure), so too is the realization that today's society, for the most part, is not as concerned about each other as it once was. Is that really true? As far as the audience of this magazine goes, I've found that an irate or upset reader can be calmed and often turned around with a simple positive response-why can't people dealing face to face do the same more frequently? Whether it's demeaning a counterperson at a fast-food restaurant, chastising a bank teller for not doing their job as the customer sees fit (whether true or not), or two drivers on the road who aren't in mutual agreement with each other's operational skills, I've witnessed an increasing amount of unfriendly behavior in the last year alone. Maybe it's due to the fact that I'm doing my best to restrain my inner demon, though I still believe the average American's patience level has dropped significantly.
Nevertheless, it's amazing what a friendly gesture or even just a smile can do. I've been guilty in the past of furthering other's bad days more times than I care to recall, but I now realize what most people need to reverse polarity is pure unselfish understanding of someone else. This goes so far as the car and truck shows many of us attend, from small local get-togethers to large-scale events bringing thousands of people and vehicles together. And it's at these bigger venues that I've seen the level of niceness, patience, and understanding drop-at least across the borders of the various "groups" of enthusiasts. It doesn't take much for the owner of a high-dollar vehicle to clash with someone who's entered what may be described as a rolling wreck into the same event. Honestly, I'd probably feel more at home in the wreck, and I'd surely want to defend my right to participate-including parking right next to a car or truck worth tons more than my heap. In the past I would have been quick to argue, but knowing now where that would get me (nowhere), today I would simply rise above, and if a quick plea of my case didn't do justice, I'd go on to enjoy the show as intended, leaving the disgruntled contender to stew in his furiousness.
What it all boils down to is that we're all here for the same purpose-to enjoy special-interest vehicles. Now whether that means buying, building, or just admiring, it makes no difference in the end...at least it shouldn't. The person who brings his prized possession to an event towed behind a million-dollar Prevost is no better or worse than a person who had his towed by A-1 Towing because its junkyard engine blew a few miles outside of town. We're no different under the surface, for the most part, regardless of how thick our pocketbooks may be. Admittedly, it's easier for someone like me to sit back and take an unbiased look than it would be from an average enthusiast's standpoint, but that shouldn't be an excuse. Open-mindedness has its place within our niche groups, just as it does in society in general-don't you agree?