Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Misplaced anger an epidemic
By Lola Shrimplin
Kansas State Collegian (Kansas State U.)
01/22/2007

(U-WIRE) MANHATTAN, Kan. — I've discovered in my old age that there are people who refuse to take responsibility for their actions, as well as people who simply are rude and hateful.

You see it every day at the store when people take out their frustrations on cashiers or food-service workers.

You can see it in the parking lots here at K-State and at the various office buildings on campus.

For instance, does anyone wonder why there are cameras at Parking Services? There is a sign stating that the cameras are in use to provide better customer service, but I haven't noticed any problem with the customer service there.

What I have noticed is a problem with the lack of civility on campus and in the world in general.

You couldn't pay me enough to work in Parking Services. Not to be a parking attendant, not to take people's money, not to be a campus police officer.

Same with the Controller's Office or financial aid.

Parking services catches most of the flak, I'd imagine. When someone gets a parking ticket, he or she has to pay for that mistake, but some people refuse to take responsibility for their errors. Instead, they scream and throw a fit because they got a wheel lock on their car or a fine for parking illegally.

I barely got enrolled this semester. I had two holds on my account - one was from Lafene Health Center and the other from the Controller's Office.

I did enroll, however, and it was in large part due to the kindness and understanding of the people involved.

The holds were and are my fault. I dropped out last semester and incurred a debt when I did. However, I failed to look on KATS to see I had that bill.

I knew about the bill at Lafene and am trying to pay it off, but it was still my fault there was a hold placed on my account.

This is what people fail to realize. There is a definite lack of responsibility and civility when it comes to taking charge of a person's own life.

The parking ticket can't possibly be the fault of the person receiving the fine. It must be because of the so-called "Parking Nazis" who gain enjoyment from the lack of parking resources on this campus. Misplaced anger taken out on people who don't deserve it can make you feel better. But, in the end, it simply transfers the pain you are in to someone who simply had the bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If you treat Parking Services with respect and treat the Controller's Office workers as human beings who are there to help you through this myriad of classes that is K-State, then you just might get a little farther than if you go in furious and screaming.

I don't know about most people, but I am more likely to want to help someone who asks nicely and patiently for something than someone who demands help or is angry when they come in, over something that isn't anyone's fault but their own.

It can be frustrating trying to enroll and pay fees and park, but the people who catch the most ire and hate are the ones who least deserve it.

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