Frustration

I have profound and fundamental issues with skating by.  You know, the process by which a person follows just enough of the rules, does just enough of the work, and acts like just enough of a decent human being to pass as whatever they are supposed to be or at whatever they are supposed to do.  Maybe it's because I was guilty of this lazy tendency for my first 17 or so years of life, or maybe it's because I now spend mountains of energy and time trying to drill the propensity out of students.  With the kids it can get tiring, but it doesn't really bother me much.  They are children, and they are growing.  Like me and many, many Americans out there, they will learn and they'll get it together.  With adults, however, it truly grates on my nerves - the idea that it is anywhere near acceptable or forgivable to do the bare minimum.  I would think that at least some of the time a grown person would want to exert a bit more effort than would be required in order to just graze the bottom of the bar.  Maybe try exceeding the expectations once in a while rather than perpetually falling an inch and a half short (far enough to get super irritating, yet not far enough to warrant the time it would take someone to address).  This kind of behavior is maddening and a slap in the face to the rest of us, but what's even more insolent is the fact that people who skate by actually think they are slick about it.  They think they have gotten one over on those around them.  Meanwhile, it's glaringly obvious from a mile and a half away.  Grow up and step up, or for God's sake stop putting on a show.  If you plan to skate by, at least have the nerve to do it with some dignity and stop pretending that you are anything more than just (barley) enough.