Show Some Damn Courtesy

By kate on November 17th, 1999

What the hell is wrong with people? I’m feeling down on humanity in general at the moment, and here’s why. There is one simple thing that I do for the benefit of others, and I expect others to do for me. This is it:

Do what you said you were going to do, or let me know there’s been a change.

For example, if you say you’re going to meet me somewhere, MEET ME THERE. If you decide not to come, or if you’ll be significantly late*, call and let me know. How simple is that? I really don’t think it’s too much to expect.

But, apparently, it is. And this can ruin my enjoyment of hanging out with people because now they seem so flaky that they can’t follow one basic principle of human interaction.

Is this something old-fashioned? Some quaint rule of etiquette that has fallen out of fashion? Am I naive to expect that simple consideration for others is no longer important?

I’m not even asking that people always follow through on their word! (Something I constantly try to do, but nevermind.) All I’m asking is that I get notified of a change, so I’m not left hanging, expecting something that’s not going to happen.

* I don’t mind if someone is 5-10 minutes late; I am usually that late myself. But when the lateness creeps into the 20+ minute zone, a call should be made.