Is there a specific age threshold, after which, you can just say whatever you want and then get offended if you generate a response? I must be at that age, where I am young enough to incite anger by my mere presence, but old enough, I shouldn’t say anything, but I’m actually too old, to be polite to rude people anymore.
Example: Today I was walking into Petsmart to get my dog from a grooming appointment. As I walked in, well clear of any other foot traffic, I felt my phone buzz. Knowing my wife is sick at home, I stopped to check it. As I did, an elderly woman, probably in her mid-to-late 70s looked at me, shook her head and said, “You people and your damn phones.”
To which I promptly replied, “You people and your unsolicited damn opinions.”
The woman gasped and said, “Well I never...”
I promptly cut her off, “No you didn’t.” And walked away.
I’m sure she thinks I’m the rudest person on the planet, but seriously, I was six feet from her, standing off to the side, out of the way and her way.
Whatever happened to, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all? I was taught that and the golden rule, which I view as complimentary.