# "Get outa my way" or Why I am more important than you: **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280 "2010-07-11T05:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/321 "2010-07-21T19:33:55Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Don’t try to be reasonable. Don’t you realize that there are unwritten laws of society that are rigid and indisputable. Woe unto them that vary from the standard for they will incur the wrath of the just. I think if people incurred more wrath on a daily basis, it might sink into their heads that there are other people in the world. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/322 "2010-07-21T19:34:38Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Cosmodan, I have no argument with almost everything you have said in this string, except this. > > I think the point for those on the other side, and one I agree with in principle, is that this should not be “nearly unconscious behavior”. What most people seem to be arguing for is that people should be able to be not so focused on their errand that they unconsciously block the way for others, even for a few seconds. Should we be able to? Sure? That is the ideal. Is it realistic to expect that ideal? Not at all. Doesn’t it seem unnecessary and unhelpful to take such a minor issue and use it as an opportunity to judge a stranger as clueless, selfish, etc.? We really have no idea in most of these encounters what is going on on that persons head or what kind of day they’ve had. Does the default judgment need to be that they are clueless and selfish? > [@](#): > > Of course, if such an inconvenience happens, it shouldn’t be a federal case (warning: hyperbole alert), which is what some people seem to want to make of it. > > It may seem that I am changing sides here, but I’m not. I’m in favor of courtesy, consideration and forbearance on all sides. It’s the last quality that seems to be severely lacking among some who have posted in this thread. > Roddy I completely agree. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/323 "2010-07-21T19:44:03Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I think if people incurred more wrath on a daily basis, it might sink into their heads that there are other people in the world. and that those people are judgmental pricks? Sorry I couldn’t resist, and I’m not accusing anyone in this thread of anything that severe. It’s a matter of the conditions we set for wrath. An earlier poster said when he was blocked in an aisle the lady looked right at him and ignored him. When he moved her cart himself she flew off the handle. That crazy bitch deserved some wrath. The OP is talking about people who have used bad self centered judgment in deciding who is wrath worthy. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/324 "2010-07-21T19:45:09Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I lived in New York City for 25 years, and it wasn’t remotely comparable to what I saw in the Shanghai metro. Then I concede bcause you obviously would know better than I. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/325 "2010-07-21T23:35:19Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I think if people incurred more wrath on a daily basis, it might sink into their heads that there are other people in the world. Love it. _Now with 10% more Wrath!_ Unfortunately, as **Cosmodan** demonstrates, all too many people are hellbent on seeing on the error in other people, not the great plank in their own eye. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/326 "2010-07-21T23:51:08Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Love it. _Now with 10% more Wrath!_ 😃 Very funny > [@](#): > > Unfortunately, as **Cosmodan** demonstrates, all too many people are hellbent on seeing on the error in other people, not the great plank in their own eye. Whew! I’m glad someone got it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/327 "2010-07-22T01:28:14Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Love it. _Now with 10% more Wrath!_ > > Unfortunately, as **Cosmodan** demonstrates, all too many people are hellbent on seeing on the error in other people, not the great plank in their own eye. That’s true enough. I guess there isn’t much to be done except try to monitor your own behaviour and come here and rant about other people when it starts getting to you. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=16)