Curb your attitude

I love people. \nOK, so I'm lying. In order to fully explain my reasons for getting agitated with people, let me define a simple word that is near abolishment around here -- Courtesy. \nIt's a noun. It's kind and thoughtful behavior toward others; or politeness; or gracious attention. Sadly, many people don't seem to understand its meaning. What's worse, they are mostly among us college students nearing their entrance into the real world. Look out for these people -- they're everywhere.\nCase and point: Recently my friend and I were patiently waiting for an 'A' bus to pick us up and take us to the stadium. \nAs the bus approached, the crowd lurched forward like the ravenous hordes running to buy Bill Clinton's "My Life". There are at least three buses en route behind this one, so heaven forbid you'd have to wait five extra mintues. \nNormally, this action usually doesn't bother me, but it does relate strongly to etiquette. I got on the bus and started walking down the aisle to get a seat. Most of the seats in the front were full, and like most people, except for those who refused to move back so they could be first to get off the bus, I walked back, glancing side by side to find a seat. \nOf course it's no suprise to see a seat in an overflowing bus occupied by only one person. Must you wonder why? A girl is sitting in one seat and has her bag placed on the other with her hand over the bag in a symbolic gesture of her refusal to move. I, understanding what courtesy is, continue searching for a seat and make no deal out of it. \nI find a seat in the very back, which is fine by me -- after all, it's better than standing, right? So no complaints come out of my mouth. \nBut here's my point: Whether you're saving a seat for your best friend that you haven't seen all day, or whether you just aren't in the mood to sit next to someone, please move over.\nThis is common courtesy we all learned in kindergarten, right? Is it going to hurt you to go on a seven-minute bus ride without being able to talk to your best friend forever? I mean, it's not like you don't shout across the bus if you by chance see her climb on, anyway. I've separated from my friends, and it won't kill you to be separated from yours. \nAlso, when you get on the bus and no seats are available, what's the worst that could happen if you move all the way down to the back of the bus to stand? You can't see out the window anyway. And while you make this gracious gesture, which is greatly appreciated by all, you're letting more people get on the bus so they don't have to wait as long. If you were outside waiting to get on a bus and people that were on it didn't move back to make more room and you were stuck outside waiting for the next one, you'd be mad, right? \nAnd one more thing. I realize you've had a long day of classes or are potentially late for them, but please, don't knock down the short people. We're fragile. And it's not like there are door prizes or A-pluses or narcotics being distributed to the first 20 people off the bus. \nCourtesy is about people going out of their way to make nice gestures, whether they want to or not. Of course, it's always nicer if you really mean it. But even if you don't, it won't kill you to go out of your way for me, or the thousands of other students who utilize the bus system.