121. Past
Principles
Law of contradiction
Cellphone at the pool
This situation brings to mind the “three point triangle theory,” where there is a beneficial force at one point, a detrimental force at another point, and a third reconciliatory force at another point. When trying to relax one day at the community pool a man was talking very loudly on his cell phone, despite a rule not to do so. When the rule was made cellphones had not reached the general public.
One lady from Sarasota enthusiastically enforced all the rules at the pool, risking "life" and "limb" in her words to do so. She had enlisted me also to do so. She would speak in a forceful way about the rudeness of people and how she wasn't brought up with such disregard for standards, and how it was her duty to correct people. Later, her arthritis semi-crippled this once pretty, athletic woman and her policing came to a standstill.
Now many people speak on their cellphones, and intimate details of their lives are shared with all, and peace and quiet had gone elsewhere. So I wasn't sure if I should correct these people, keep the rules and respect the quiet, or let it go, just go along with the lack of manners and not place myself in a tense situation. I would have to balance the need to do right and my own tolerance for creating a possible conflict.