Sunday, August 05, 2007

A Sense of Entitlement

I am growing increasingly frustrated with what seems to be a new disease - a sense of entitlement that appears to motivate people to do and say whatever they please, even if it results in someone else being hurt. When did this become something popular to do? I see it happening more and more often.

This is a free country and we have the right to say and do what we want, when we want, how we want. Why, then, is it fair/acceptable to express oneself and end up hurting people in the process? At times it is inevitable: if your opinions clash with another's, then someone is bound to be hurt. But what about those times where it is not necessary for you to voice your opinion? Opinions are not required 100% of the time, so why can't some people shut their mouths for a few minutes and have some respect for others?

I am finding this scenario particularly frustrating as I plan my wedding. Although I do not have an issue with too many people forcing opinions on me, I have been very cognizant of the fact that I want people to enjoy the day with us. This means, for example, that I can't serve a meal that mainly consists of chinese food because a large portion of the people attending the event may not like chinese. Instead we are serving turkey dinner -- a meal that should appeal to most of our guests. I am not saying "damn the torpedoes" and serving what I like to eat just because it's my wedding, without any consideration for my guests. I think it would be a pretty crappy wedding if all I cared about was myself.

It must be interesting to go through life doing exactly what you want to do and saying what you want to say, and if anyone doesn't like you for it, to hell with them. Do these people ever realize they have hurt someone? Do they have regret?

5 comments:

John said...

The thing that people forget is that their right to do and say whatever ends where your rights not to put up with whatever it is begin.

Or, as one of my PoliSci teachers once said, "Your right to throw the punch ends where my nose begins."

Scum said...

Well, as far as the food at your wedding is concerned... It IS your wedding.

If you serve liquor, the food won't matter. :)

liz said...

Um, actually, it's a dry wedding.

Scum said...

Chris, Stew, B, and I are gonna bring a keg. :)

Cyn said...

I think people get right, privilege & freedom all jumbled up. One is definitely not the other.

Probably opening up a can of worms, but take smoking for example. I recognize that it is a person's privilege in this country to have the freedom to smoke. No where in the constitution or bill of rights does it say that a person has the right to smoke. It's not a right it's a privileged freedom!

Sigh. All that to simply nod and say I agree. haha :)