Attitude is in the Eye of the Beholder

Has anyone ever told you that you have an attitude problem? Did you know that if that has happened to you, I probably envy you?

Attitude is a huge catch-word in this culture. "You need an adjustment in attitude." "I don't appreciate your attitude." "You'd get much farther faster without that smart attitude." "Your attitude is your biggest problem." If it's true that attitude is such a problem, how come it's such a celebrated character trait in so many of our TV shows, movies, and books (not to mention our celebrities and rock stars)?

Back when Harry Potter was still in awe of being at Hogwarts, who provided a lot of the fun? The Weasley twins, of course, with their flippant, humorous attitude toward the world at large and Hogwarts in particular. Anybody out there think Wolverine doesn't have an attitude? Or how about Spiderman? On TV, the Winchester brothers, particularly Dean, survive because of it, and if you want the man whose picture is in the dictionary next to the A-word, try watching House.

In real life, attitude is corrected, quashed, curbed, and sometimes punished. But everyone must be sporting a little bit of rebel in them, or all of these characters would have faded into the woodwork or been tossed onto the scrap heap of the soon-forgotten, and that's just not the case. In the anonymity of a movie theater, or in the privacy of our own homes, we celebrate people with attitude. What else could possibly explain Eminem?

And I, with my polite, old-fashioned, all-girls-Catholic-school education, not only celebrate attitude along with the rest, but also admire. I sometimes wish I had that kind of attitude -the quick razor wit that's a weapon when need be, the thick skin that would allow me to let put-downs and unkind comments slide off my back like so much water. Sigh. I probably wouldn't want to work in the same department as House, but boy, I sure could use some of what he's got. Attitude? Me? Don't I wish.

Bill Collectors...

...I know they have a job to do, but they can be so aggressive about it!! I recently moved into my own place and did the whole change of address spiel with the Post Office and my Employer. Well somehow, somewhere, my check has not shown up. It's been almost two weeks. I'm almost out of gas (thank goodness for Honda's gas mileage capabilities) and some groceries would be nice.
So this chick calls me on Monday from a place that I owe a $65.00 payment to. I've already met her once and she's so snotty you just want to spank her and put her in the corner. She asks "when I'll be in to pay my payment"
and I said
"I don't know. I haven't rec'd my paycheck. "
"Why haven't you received it?"
"Because I moved and did a change of address and I think they lost it"
"Well I need to know a day when you're going to be in"
"I don't know, when I get paid, you'll get paid"
"Well pick a day"
"Wednesday"
"So you will be in on Wednesday then?"
"Yes, if I get my paycheck"
"No, you need to come in whether you get your paycheck or not"
"Well if I don't get my paycheck, I'll have no money to make a payment"
"You can borrow some to make a payment"
"Um, yeah, let's see, it's been almost two weeks since I've been paid and I'm going to borrow money to pay you? No, you're not that important to me, I'll borrow for myself first."
"I'm sensing an attitude Mr. Randall and I just want you to make a payment"
"This is not an attitude, this is me telling you the truth, I don't have any money, when I get money I will pay you. I don't see how this is so hard to follow."
"We'll see you on Wednesday Mr. Randall"
"Hopefully, good bye."

Well, I still haven't got my check and today is Wednesday, so I called her to tell her this is a courtesy call to let her know I will not be in today. She didn't laugh.

Bill Collectors...

...I know they have a job to do, but they can be so aggressive about it!! I recently moved into my own place and did the whole change of address spiel with the Post Office and my Employer. Well somehow, somewhere, my check has not shown up. It's been almost two weeks. I'm almost out of gas (thank goodness for Honda's gas mileage capabilities) and some groceries would be nice.
So this chick calls me on Monday from a place that I owe a $65.00 payment to. I've already met her once and she's so snotty you just want to spank her and put her in the corner. She asks "when I'll be in to pay my payment"
and I said
"I don't know. I haven't rec'd my paycheck. "
"Why haven't you received it?"
"Because I moved and did a change of address and I think they lost it"
"Well I need to know a day when you're going to be in"
"I don't know, when I get paid, you'll get paid"
"Well pick a day"
"Wednesday"
"So you will be in on Wednesday then?"
"Yes, if I get my paycheck"
"No, you need to come in whether you get your paycheck or not"
"Well if I don't get my paycheck, I'll have no money to make a payment"
"You can borrow some to make a payment"
"Um, yeah, let's see, it's been almost two weeks since I've been paid and I'm going to borrow money to pay you? No, you're not that important to me, I'll borrow for myself first."
"I'm sensing an attitude Mr. Randall and I just want you to make a payment"
"This is not an attitude, this is me telling you the truth, I don't have any money, when I get money I will pay you. I don't see how this is so hard to follow."
"We'll see you on Wednesday Mr. Randall"
"Hopefully, good bye."

Well, I still haven't got my check and today is Wednesday, so I called her to tell her this is a courtesy call to let her know I will not be in today. She didn't laugh.

Bill Collectors...

...I know they have a job to do, but they can be so aggressive about it!! I recently moved into my own place and did the whole change of address spiel with the Post Office and my Employer. Well somehow, somewhere, my check has not shown up. It's been almost two weeks. I'm almost out of gas (thank goodness for Honda's gas mileage capabilities) and some groceries would be nice.
So this chick calls me on Monday from a place that I owe a $65.00 payment to. I've already met her once and she's so snotty you just want to spank her and put her in the corner. She asks "when I'll be in to pay my payment"
and I said
"I don't know. I haven't rec'd my paycheck. "
"Why haven't you received it?"
"Because I moved and did a change of address and I think they lost it"
"Well I need to know a day when you're going to be in"
"I don't know, when I get paid, you'll get paid"
"Well pick a day"
"Wednesday"
"So you will be in on Wednesday then?"
"Yes, if I get my paycheck"
"No, you need to come in whether you get your paycheck or not"
"Well if I don't get my paycheck, I'll have no money to make a payment"
"You can borrow some to make a payment"
"Um, yeah, let's see, it's been almost two weeks since I've been paid and I'm going to borrow money to pay you? No, you're not that important to me, I'll borrow for myself first."
"I'm sensing an attitude Mr. Randall and I just want you to make a payment"
"This is not an attitude, this is me telling you the truth, I don't have any money, when I get money I will pay you. I don't see how this is so hard to follow."
"We'll see you on Wednesday Mr. Randall"
"Hopefully, good bye."

Well, I still haven't got my check and today is Wednesday, so I called her to tell her this is a courtesy call to let her know I will not be in today. She didn't laugh.