Mean People

I asked someone this week why he didn't like another person and the reply was, "cause he or she is mean." I quizzically asked "really, in what way?" And the reply was, "he or she just is. I always feel rushed when I am around he or she." (names have been left out to protect the guilty)

I think that most of us have seen the bumper sticker MEAN PEOPLE SUCK. It is certainly not meant to be a compliment and the wording is not exactly something that we really want to go around repeating. But the point is made and understood completely. Webster's definition of mean includes such words as hateful and mean-spirited. Adjectives such as those are not what I would want others to use to describe me and probably the same for those of you reading this.

There are two age groups in our society that are most susceptible to others when it comes to people being mean. Children and the elderly. For some reason, there are people in this world who feel that it is perfectly acceptable to be mean to innocent children and elderly folk who are unable to adequately fight back. We see and hear of physical abuse of children and elderly in the news nearly everyday. This is just plain wrong on so many levels. It just is.

By no means is it acceptable to be mean to anyone of any age, but to specifically target someone because they cannot defend themselves is not right. For the life of me, I do not understand it.

So, if someone thinks you are mean because you make them feel rushed when you are around them, does that signal it is time for you to slow down and pay closer attention to the people around you?

I am waiting for the day when we see a bumper sticker that says WHAT MEAN PEOPLE???