Is it me, or has the world always been this rude? I am noticing an ever increasing trend of absolute rudeness and “me first” attitudes. Or maybe it’s always been like this and I’m just getting grumpier as I get older.

My morning commute, as I’ve noted before, can be a trip through the darkest levels of hell. Over-crowded highways, oblivious cell phone yackers, and the jerks who always have to cut you off only to slow down once they are safely in front of you. As I get onto 495 from the Dulles toll road, there is a section where the two lanes merge into one before merging onto the beltway. Most people, having had plenty of notice that the lanes are merging, politely take turns, one car from the left lane, then the car from the right lane. This makes sense and provides a continuously flowing stream. Inevitably, there is that one jackass who has to gun his engine, race up from behind, and practically run the other car off the road while he bullies his way in. You can almost hear him yelling in a petulant childish voice, “Me first!” Yes, I’m talking about you, Virginia HNG 6255; you and a thousand others just like you.

Read the rest of this entry »