In the video below, a lady verbally accosts a family parked in a parking lot because the truck’s fumes are blowing into her car’s open windows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVdMySWfAIQ

As a viewer, you don’t see her first interactions with the couple, so her reactions might have been triggered by something not shown in this video. However, judging by how the husband and wife carry themselves, it seems that if they did provoke the lady in some way, their provocation did not warrant the woman’s response.

I have met many people like this lady in my life. Every time I meet someone like this, I’m shocked and dismayed by his/her attitude. My understanding is that I see self-righteous anger at a perceived threat without any true understanding of the situation. It seems the only reason for this is that the person believes their rights have been violated and the “have right on their side.” Not only that, but this self-righteous anger makes the other person want to be “right” so badly that they trample on the rights of others to “prove their point.” To me, the ends do not justify the means.

In the interaction, the husband and father gently tells the woman that he backed up as she asked him to. However, she starts on this tirade about pollution and his ignorance when the real issue is that she doesn’t like the smell of exhaust and it was blowing into her open car doors. Yet, reason and logic flew out the window the moment she got so angry.

A lot of people say that losing oneself in anger can be very cathartic and therapeutic. I would say that anger is a healthy emotion, but when other people are involved, it is far more important to tread lightly and not needlessly hurt or put down (or try to do so) other people to “release some steam.”

I feel sorry for that poor lady who feels so justified in acting so childish. I feel sorry for the couple for not defusing the situation. I wish I could let everyone see people as I see them for a moment. People are awesome. People are trying to do the best they can. People are showing and calling for love. People are hurting enough already. People make mistakes (like letting fumes into her open window) without realizing the harm they are causing others. Can’t we all just get along? How long will people’s calls for love go unanswered?