Spinning out of control

Have you ever gotten frustrated waiting at the doctor's office forever? What about others who never show up on time? Your inept boss? Rude airport security people? Professors who are too good for office hours? If so, I have a person for you -- Bill O'Reilly, anchor of the popular show, "The O'Reilly Factor" (weeknights on the Fox news channel).\nWhy is O'Reilly great for handling these situations? Three words -- "No Spin Zone." For those who regularly watch "The Factor," O'Reilly's cut-to-the-chase, no-bull attitude with his guests is refreshing. O'Reilly asks simple questions and expects simple answers. If the guest stutters, has to take time to think of a politically correct answer, or is long winded, game over. O'Reilly prods in and destroys their sorry excuse of an answer. While this is entertaining, O'Reilly's two best-selling books seem to intend the "no-spin attitude" for use as a life philosophy.\nWhat does "no-spin attitude" mean? Don't wait unreasonable periods for people supposedly serving you. Doctors, lawyers, educators, etc. all charge you a large sum to see them; hold them to the highest standards. They certainly hold themselves in high regard.\nExpect professionalism from co-workers and bosses, expect respect from everyone. From holding doors, to simply saying "please" and "thank you," courtesy as respect is undervalued in our hectic world. Perhaps it would be less anarchic if people were more polite.\nCall people out for their exceedingly rude behavior. Maybe these people had bad parents, maybe they think they're too good for courtesy, I don't care. Be polite to them, but firm. Stupid behavior is, well…stupid.\nHammer away at people who are consistently late, unprepared, or who never follow through on their promises. If done consistently, these actions are inexcusable. They demonstrate a lack of respect for others and a penchant for laziness. There are simply too many lazy people in the world. So if need be, prod them a little. I suggest a low-intensity cattle-prod.\nGive second chances most of the time, give third chances rarely; there are no fourth chances. Of course, mistakes and accidents happen, so don't jump the gun, but there is no reason to suffer repeated idiocies.\nTell people that bully-pulpit you to death with political correctness that it is a sorry substitute for self-thinking and common sense. They have the right to say anything they want. They don't have the right to make you say and act their little self-righteous jig. This point cannot be understated -- political correctness is a cancer on society because it relies on spinning reality to pit people against each other. It solves nothing; it destroys much.\n Some of these are my own "no-spin" derivatives from O'Reilly's original concept. Some are direct ideas from O'Reilly's books. But taken together, they make my own personal "No Spin Zone."\n While this philosophy is great at reducing soliciting calls, the best thing about it is that it requires the "no-spin person" to abide by his own code. To expect respect, one must give respect. To harangue colleagues about their laziness, one must be productive himself. The "no-spin person" is responsible for his own actions first and foremost. This is why "no-spin" beats pc-ness everyday of the week. "No-spin" is a philosophy of self-responsibility. So make your own "No Spin Zone" before the spin makes you dizzy.