Over the past month Barberton Times have received two calls from senior citizens concerning some or other issue they wanted us to write about.
On being asked a normal question, “In which part of town is that street, sir?” the first caller, a gentleman, totally flipped, accusing me of ignorance, and asked what I was doing here if I did not know where the street was. No, he was not asking, he was shouting, before throwing down the phone.
Sir, I still haven’t figured out which street or complex it was you were talking about, but I have a vague idea it is in the vicinity of Dikbas Avenue. Strictly speaking, out of town and a place I only frequent maybe three times a year.
The second caller, a lady, got highly upset when I told her, on deadline, that no, I couldn’t come and take a picture of the two-metre black adder they killed on Sunday. After I asked her why they killed it and did not phone someone to remove it, she too lost her temper, became rude and threw the phone down in a rage.
This is unacceptable. I don’t care how long you have been in Barberton, whether you have a map of the streets blueprinted in your brain or still believe the myth that snakes should be killed and have their heads beaten to a pulp upon discovery.
If anything, old age should be a time when wisdom truly sets in. I will not tolerate bad manners, regardless of age. My mother taught me to always greet, even if you don’t like the person. She taught me to conclude a phone conversation with at least a goodbye, under all circumstances.
Old age is no excuse for rudeness. In future, if you do not possess the ability to be polite, do not phone me.
