Rage against the machine parked in my driveway

I came home and found a car parked in my driveway. Instead of flying off the handle–like every instinct wanted me to do–I reported it to my complex’s office and they promised to called a tow truck. I tried to get on with my life but kept peering out the window to make sure the car was still there. Some nitwit parks in my driveway and he thinks that’s the end of it…but it’s not–not for me. I wanted the jerk to feel the consequences of his actions…and what better way to suffer than having to free an impounded car. As much as I didn’t want that car in my driveway, I desperately didn’t want the owner to move it before the tow truck truck arrived. I tried making a snack to eat, but couldn’t concentrate on my food. I tried watching TV but found myself distracted. It was too much and I was obsessing. I couldn’t stop thinking about the car and became extremely angry. If the owner appeared in my presence, I’d end up ripping him a new one for being an arsehole. If the tow truck came, I’d be tempted to help him break a window.

I need to free my mind from the unwelcomed car because I knew the longer I thought about it, the angrier I’d get (and more likely to get arrested). I went over to my mom’s house to do laundry because it was the only distraction I could think of. It was the best thing to do–something that kept me from losing my mind.

When I came home, the car was gone. Towed or driven away, I don’t know. It’s probably best I don’t know.

I’m not a hardass. I’d like to think I’m fairly easygoing and not some sorta strict rule Nazi. But when people blatantly opt to break the rules for personal gain–that really bothers me. I know there are plenty of silly, pointless rules in society. I don’t mind someone running a red light at two in the morning of a deserted intersection. There’s no harm; no foul. But when someone runs a red light during rush-hour at the corner of Hollywood and Vine…that really pisses me off. That lawbreaker put his or her personal interest ahead of the rules of society. They didn’t wait at the light because they didn’t wanna wait. They don’t give a damn how other people have to wait on them. They don’t care that their actions are could possibly lead to a dangerous interaction with other vehicles. Why would they? They don’t wanna hafta wait.

And that’s what makes me a hardass. It may seem like simple, trivial things. But to me, it’s a total disrespect towards everyone else around you. I was watching “30 Rock” last night and Tina Fey’s character got into an argument with someone who cut in line ahead of her at a hot dog cart. It’s that sorta contempt that has me livid–people who ignore social rules because it’s convenient for them.

I think you hafta to be a complete social deviant to live that way. My brother is like that. He rarely considers others or human decency with his actions–instead, always looking at the big picture (i.e., what’s good for him). Maybe I’m just a lot nicer guy than I think I am, but I don’t think it’s that hard to treat others with respect. Sure, I think 97 percent of the people out there are total morons–but I don’t tell them that. I try to treat everyone fairly and give them the respect that I wish people would treat me with. I don’t like when I hafta yell at some phone operator because I know my beef isn’t with them personally (unfortunately, sometimes yelling is the only way anything gets done). I just wish people would be so damn self-serving.