Self-importance

What the hell is wrong with people? Why is everyone suddenly so much more important than everyone else? Ok, maybe "everyone" is too broad a statement... but you know what I mean. There are an awful lot of people out there--a growing number, it seems--that are obviously Really Very Important, which gives them the right to park at the curb instead of a parking space, drive on the shoulder past a huge line of cars, only to merge in later, closer to the source of a traffic blockage, ignore the "common feeder line" concept at cash registers, to get checked out first, stuff like that.

It'll only get worse. Often when these offenses take place, there are children with the offenders. What are those kids learning in the process? They're learning to be assholes themselves. Great. I only hope I don't live long enough to be in a nursing home with these assholes taking care of me.

Anyway, what can we do about these people? First of all, the simplest approach is to confront them. It's amazing how well an "Excuse me, I believe I was here first" will work with the people that are more self-absorbed than self-important. Occasionally, you'll come across the indignant person. Then, I believe a slightly louder "What the fuck makes you so much more important than everyone else in line?" works. At least it's worked for me the two times I've used it. It's great to see a self-important prick kind of shrink back from all the eyeballs language like that draws. :-)

For car offenses... don't let them merge in! If they're ultra-agressive, hit 'em! When the police report shows someone passed on the right and tried to merge in, there's no question whose insurance company picks up the tab. AND, they don't get wherever they were going in such a damn hurry. At the grocery store, when there's an asshole parked at the door instead of a spot, I think that makes them a cart corral. Park your cart right in front/behind/next to that car. How much force you use to put the cart in place is up to you.

These self-important assholes won't stop doing what they're doing until they find that it's much more inconvenient than being a human.