Towards A Just Society.

Have you noticed how some people use the word "just" to excuse what would otherwise be considered inappropriate actions or unacceptable behaviour. Like when someone says "I’m just going to be a minute," as they park their vehicle in the Fire Route at the mall. As if, somehow, by saying "just" it excuses them from the rules by which everyone else is expected to abide.

Earlier this week, as I was waiting for the bus at the Cambrian Mall, I watched, with a mixture of amusement and disbelief, as people kept parking in the middle of the roadway. To be fair, when RioCan had the parking lot reconstructed they ought to have installed curbs and islands at the end of the parking rows. However, they didn’t; they only painted lines, which that day were half-covered with sand.

Still, it seemed obvious — at least, from where I was standing — that if one drives along the roadway leading from Romes, stops at the sign in front of the CIBC, then drives straight ahead that one is on a roadway. To then stop and park in line with the rest of the parked vehilces doesn’t really make that spot a parking spot, especially since the vehicles coming behind you have to swerve around your vehicle.

One women did this. As she crossed the road and approached me, I pointed out to her that she had parked in the middle of the roadway. She stopped and looked back at her car, and pointed to the line beside which she had parked. "No," she said, "I’m inside the line."

I pointed out that that particular line was actually the centre line of the roadway, and how it curved away from her car and followed the road down past Shoppers Drugmart. She shrugged, and said, "Well I’m just going to be a minute, anyway."

The bus came a minute later, so I never did get to see if Security, who were already writing tickets further down the roadway, reached her car before she came out.

There was one time when I had come out from the Station Mall to find someone leaning on my car, talking to his friend in the next car. When I asked him, politely, to please not lean on my car he replied, "What? I was just leaning on it. I wasn’t hurting anything."

One time — actually, many times — during my days with Bon Soo I watched as people perched their kids on the snow sculptures at Fantasy Kingdom, despite clearly-visible signs stating this wasn’t allowed. When reminded this wasn’t permitted, most would apologize. Some, however, would get huffy and state, "I’m just taking my kid’s picture."

Funny, the sign didn’t stay "Please keep off the sculptures unless you’re just taking your kid’s picture."

(My favourite was one time when Steve Holder walked up, grabbed the sign and said to a mother "Here, let me move this so it doesn't show up in your picture." The mother thanked him.)

When I worked at a local hotel pool I often had to stop guests who came in carrying glass bottles, glasses, or ceramic coffee mugs. Occasionally some would say "It’s okay, I’m not staying. I’m just going to talk to my friend for a minute."

Of course. Carrying GLASS into a pool area is okay if you're just going to be a minute. What's the chance of you dropping it and having it shatter on the tile floor?

Several years ago, when I was living in Dundas, Ontario, I helped with the annual "Cactus Festival," which was their version of Community Days. I was assigned to work at the road block at the beginning of the parade route, to direct motorists along the alternate route.

One motorist in particular was giving me a hard time about not being allowed past the road block. The cop assigned to that intersection — a big, burly Sergeant — came over and told the motorist to do as I had told him.

"But," he said, "I just need to go two blocks."

The Sergeant took a few moments to explain to the gentleman just why he wasn’t allowed to drive past the Road Closed sign, and just what would happen if he didn’t get moving right snappish.

I find this particular use of the word just is symptomatic of a bigger problem: a lack of respect for others. To me, it’s like saying "I’m just way more important than anyone else, I just don’t care what anyone else thinks, and I'll just do as I please."

What has happened that so many people place their own needs and desires ahead of everyone else? Have we really become this self-centred as a society?

Perhaps we need to get back to a truly just society, where we show consideration and respect for each other.

But… that’s just my opinion.