Having said that, earlier today I encountered a situation that reinforced that sentiment. Let me first say that the word "annoy" isn't anywhere near strong enough for how I really feel about rude people, but I'll leave it at that.
Some hired workers at one home were admonished quite rudely/crudely by the owner of the neighboring home about some alleged infraction. (the details aren't important) The workers included an entire family: mom/dad/teen daughters and slightly younger sons. The neighbor decided he was going to assert his alpha dog status, and he became verbally abusive to the mom, daughters and then to the husband. Let's see... He verbally berated the husband, in extremely crass language, for his weight, for his status as a physical laborer, for the fact that he didn't live in this nice, upscale neighborhood and why didn't he just go back where he came from. None of which, by the way, had anything to do with the "infraction". Let's stay on topic now!
In defense of his family, the dad became hot under the collar and the situation deteriorated into a yelling match, (and would have become a boxing match except that the mom was busy running interference), and the kids were pretty much stunned and nervous. Meanwhile, the neighbor's young son, standing in his yard, was privy to the entire scene. So alpha dog got out his trusty camera to take photos of the alleged "yard abuse", then called the cops. OH MY GOSH!!
You know, I think some humans are prime candidates for being "fixed". Did you ever notice how male dogs calm down when they're neutered?---hummm food for thought. So alpha dog strutted his stuff, feeling very pleased that he had justified himself by belittling, insulting and terrorizing some people who were merely doing what they were hired to do while trying to mind their own business.
Sin nature! How can anyone deny we have it?
This is something that I know: the only solution is God. Only the indwelling Holy Spirit can tame that alpha dog within us that is screaming for control. Another thing I know is that I should be praying for that neighbor, for his salvation and the salvation of his family. Without it 1) he will continue his relentless quest for alpha dog status, and 2) he will continue to be one of those rude people who really, really annoy me.
