Speak Out Manchester!

So Manchester, CT has a community newspaper. It's not a very interesting thing to read, but there is one section that is usually a good laugh. Each issue has a section called "Speak Out" where community members can write in and "voice their opinions, thoughts and concerns." The best part, all posts are anonymous. As you might guess, this leads to all the nut jobs grabbing a pen and paper. Sometimes there are some good opinions or arguments represented, but usually, its people venting about manners, their own personal problems,how bad the world is, etc.

I decided to start posting some snippets from "Speak Out." Enjoy:

All I ask for is a little respect. You may not like me or the way I do things, but all I ask is for enough respect that you would contact me so we can talk it over. A simple conversation would probably clarify many things so that we would be able to see any issue from both sides. I am tired of hearing grumblings and disgruntled comments. If you have a problem with me, lets get it out so we can move on. When I don’t get respect from you, it is hard to extend the same courtesy. If we just treated each other with a little more respect, things would be very different.

I recently gave a friend a $50 gift certificate to dine at a restaurant. I never received a written thank-you note. I also attended a 25-year wedding anniversary and gave a gift adn did not receive a written thank-you. Have people abandoned this courtesy?

Why are we teaching our kids it is what is inside a person that matters not looks or money? Yet to get ahead in our world, we have to dress prefectly, look beautiful or be rich. If you don't fit in those categories, then you must be close to being broke now, especially with gas and oil prices. What if we don't have money to buy new clothes? What do we do then?

I work at a parking company in a booth at the airport. I love my job, but I need to ask people to please don’t lick your fingers to count your money. I wash my hands all the time, but I have to touch your money and it’s disgusting. For all I know, you are getting back from a country that has the bird flu and giving it to me. I have three children who need me.