I Don't Think I was Rude
It happened about seven houses from home. The man saw me coming and moved to his garden wall as I returned from my regular morning walk. I cursed at myself for not being on the other side of the road.
It was obvious that he intended to talk to me and I don’t want to talk to him. I avoid people I don’t like. If a woman has to wear sunglasses to hide a black eye at times one can still argue that she walked into the door jamb; they both drink excessively during weekends but I know that is not the reason for the occasional black eye. I greet him when I see him but that is where it ends whereas I normally stop for a little small talk with the other neighbors.
He asked me if I’m upset with him and I denied it. I’m not upset with him, I simply don’t like him. Then he asked why I never talk to him. I had already tried to get out of it by my tame reply on his previous question but he was not going to let up so I told him that I don’t like him. It is not an insult. I just don’t like him.
He wanted to know why I don’t like him. “Look,” I said, “I’m sure you will be able to think of one or two reasons that will cause people not to like you. Some people dislike me as well. So why not leave it at that. I don’t want to get into an argument with you about this.” I was about to resume my walk home.
But he insisted that I tell him so I told him that I don’t like the way he treats his wife. He turned red and told me I’m interfering with his privacy. I replied that as his wife had to run to the neighbors for help several times in the past, it is no longer a private or domestic affair. He said that we’re a bunch of busybodies and that we should stay out of his private life.
I told him to hell with his privacy and that if he asked a question, it is not my problem if he did not like the answer. I started walking again.
When I was about ten meters off he shouted, “You effing oxygen thief. You should stay out of my private affairs, effing rude old bastard.” I preferred to ignore him and walked on. For special effects he still added: “You effing stupid old arsehole!” He’s got a good thirty years on me but I fancied my chances with him. I had a good mind to turn around but sanity prevailed and I walked on.
Now, more than two weeks later, I find the episode amusing and I wish there was somebody around to record a video of it. I would have loved to look at it from another angle but one thing stuck with me. How can he tell me I was rude when he was the only rude one around? I was polite and soft-spoken the whole time. I only responded to questions that he insisted on being answered.
May you have a glorious Monday!
Comments (76)
Maybe in the coming months! You and him will get pass this. And it will become better between you two
Sometimes Shiiit Just Happen!....
I was never rude to him. I always greeted him when I saw him. I just never made conversation with him. I don't want to talk to him because I have nothing to say to him. He forced himself onto me, no matter how you want to look at it.
I don't like him and I don't know why I still explain it. It is my good right to like or dislike people as I see fit and if other people like him, it is their good right too. Not so?
666!....................
I don't think so. i have walked past his place a few times since then but I have not seen him again.
but that does not mean a thing. He may be sleeping or on day shift.
Eish, I did not know that. No wonder the devil is walking around on this blog.
I think I must blame the mods for this. If they did not delete a few of my blogs a few years ago, I would have been at least on 670.
Well at least nobody can say I don't learn. They only had to delete a few of my blogs before I learned who is running the show around here.
Weet wat jy bedoel met huurders, sommige voel dis nie hul eiendom so waarom moet hulle daarna omsien? Onskuldige opmerking wat sommiges hier nou die dam onder die eend laat uitruk. Stop jou nonsens! Nou is ons in die mis
Unless if he mends his way very visibly, we won't get past this, I have no time for a woman beater.
Awwww!.......................
I Understand!..........
I don't understand them. They read what they want to read. All I did was to describe our neighborhood to Mimi. Anf it is a fact, most (hi-lited to avoid further misunderstanding
I Miss You!.........
I knew you would.
I did not quite understand your first comment esp the relevance of the story and I fear I t understand your second comment even less. Are you telling me that I must like people I don't like and that I must associate with a woman beater?
I , myself have great neighbors, good bunch, always there for each other, but have one of those RUDE neighbors, (always yelling and swearing) . And he wonders why
You Should Understand Cat/ Bob
That is Kal. I have gotten used to her sometimes awkward questions. I just don't understand what she's getting at. I'm sure shell clarify it soon.
Well, thank you. but I tried to get out of it in the beginning. I despise him for beating his wife but strictly spoken, it is not my business and if he did not push for answers, I would not have told him any of it. Though I think the outcome would have been the same had I not answered him and just walked away. I have not expressed my dislike towards him towards anybody, so he must have been watching me talking to his neighbors and not to him.
I have some friends who sometimes did bad things and being rude to some. But that doesn’t make me break our friendships. They did nice things and were polite to some others too, including to me, not just doing the bad things. Whenever they were nice, I would be nice to them too. But whenever they were bad, I would act accordingly. Ofcourse I didn’t like them for the bad things they did but I would appreciate them for the good things they did. Different things deserve different treatment.
To my understanding, that “women beater” guy you mentioned was trying to have a nice chit chat with you on that day. So to me telling him that you didn’t like him wasn’t necessary. But that’s just my opinion.
@AngelP
Did I sound preaching?
Well… I am only responsible for what I said and not for what you interpreted.
Kal! know me. And besides we are phone buddies......
Have a nice day, Catfoot..
@AngelP
The Next Beer Is On Me.......
I'm sorry if I came across harsh but this was not the first time that you made up your own thing when commenting on my blog and I will not put up with it anymore. You knew as well as everybody else that he did not come for a friendly talk. I don't know what you hoped to achieve by that.
but you have a good day too.
You never buy me beer!!
With Art’s money of course!!
Good, if he's paying I'll take a case.
Whatever the case, the road has two sides. I can only suggest to walk on the other side of the road and, just look straight ahead.
Take care.
This fella is forgotten and no longer on my mind. I'm not about to change my walking habits because of him. Some people annoy me from time to time and if I am going to give way all the time. I'll soon bout of walking space. nope, he'd just have to tolerate me as I have to tolerate him.
I guess there were several better ways to handle it and with hindsight I can also think of some other way to have handled it but I had to think on the fly at the time. I did not expect this and had no time to think. But with his attitude I was not going to bake sweet cakes with him. But all said, I'm happy with the outcome. I have walked past his place several times since that episode and have not seen him.
I'm surprised that you did not plant him.
It is a good thing that you are not thirty years younger.
You had less patience then.
You would have been with an assault charge against you today.
I meant to say 'Those are days long gone'.