Who likes to be reprimanded? “I DO! I DO!”

Honestly, that is NOT the response most people would give – especially in the modern climate of viciousness in which the weak-minded attack anyone whose views differ from theirs. Modern “warriors” take pot shots (racial slurs, attacks on people’s beliefs, estimation of intelligence and visual beauty, etc.) from their hiding spots behind a warm, comfy Cheetos-stained computer keyboard in Mom’s spare bedroom. God save us from these mental midgets who need to “show us on this doll” where the Facebook post hurt them, lashing out at every imagined slight. The offense industry is alive and well, and the answer to being offended is not, “Excuse me…,” but, “You stupid [CENSORED], don’t you [BEEP]-ing know anything. Just [DELETED] my [OOOPS], [KAPOW] – [BIFF] [BAM] and [ZOWIE]. Don’t you forget it, either, yeah! And give Dad my love!”

Cowards take the low road and hurl insults often from safety and anonymity, and almost always from anger or fear. Secret attacks give an adrenaline rush to the self-absorbed. They never look their targets in the eyes, but get the thrill of a victory, when the ideal of true public discourse is suffering the agony of defeat.

So last week, I was in my office (on my own lawn), and the door buzzer rings. A gentleman with whom I do business comes into the office (He got ON MY LAWN) and told me about an issue he had with me. I’ll tell you this – my initial reaction was not, “Oh, THANK YOU so very much! I felt like being corrected today, and this was JUST THE THING I NEEDED!” However, it did not take long at all before my defensive reaction gave way to respect and thankfulness that he acted in a forthright manner to resolve his issue. True ladies or gentleman will not stew in their own anger (by the way, that really makes a foul-tasting stew), but they will respect you enough to confront you and discuss a problem. They won’t attack from the seclusion of their virtual, digital grassy knoll. They won’t mail anonymous letters to smear or attack. They won’t take their figurative toys away and stomp off.

Instead of spouting off in a big tirade about what’s gotten your panties in a twist, go up to someone and spell out what your problem is in a respectful fashion – it’s a little thing called character. It is okay to let people know you are mad with them. It is probably even healthy to let them know that they made you angry or even hurt your feelings.

When this man left my office, he felt better having expressed his troubles. I was thankful that he did so as well, and not at the expense of yelling or belittling me as others have done in the past. There are just not enough men or women like him around anymore.

Disagreements happen, but when they happen, why can’t it be like the one I had today?

As Kevin Bacon once said in some animal movie, “Thank you, Sir! May I have another?” YES, if I can have a respectful interaction with someone who has a disagreement with me, I WILL take another one of those!

Gary Wayne Dupré is enjoying his second career as the Administrative Assistant for L’OBSERVATEUR and can be reached at gary.dupre@lobservateur.com or 985-652-9545. He’s an old man, so STAY OFF HIS LAWN!