Self-reflexive

Thomas Friedman understands just how media saturated our world is. And that's why he's so darn polite:

Three years ago, I was catching a plane at Boston’s Logan airport and went to buy some magazines for the flight. As I approached the cash register, a woman coming from another direction got there just behind me — I thought. But when I put my money down to pay, the woman said in a very loud voice: “Excuse me! I was here first!” And then she fixed me with a piercing stare that said: “I know who you are.” I said I was very sorry, even though I was clearly there first.

If that happened today, I would have had a very different reaction. I would have said: “Miss, I’m so sorry. I am entirely in the wrong. Please, go ahead. And can I buy your magazines for you? May I buy your lunch? Can I shine your shoes?”

Why? Because I’d be thinking there is some chance this woman has a blog or a camera in her cellphone and could, if she so chose, tell the whole world about our encounter — entirely from her perspective — and my utterly rude, boorish, arrogant, thinks-he-can-butt-in-line behavior.

Heavens, the indignity!

I suppose it's all for the better that the new media makes Friedman a more considerate person. But has he somehow missed the fact that he's all over the blogosphere anyhow? Not for being insensitive, of course. But for being totally ridiculous. If he could just get a handle on that aspect of himself, then perhaps it wouldn't matter terribly if he was to be called out--accurately or otherwise--for every now and then becoming irritable at the airport. 

Comments

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