Books by Ian Rogers
Books by Ian Rogers
As a flexible and lateral thinker, I have, throughout my life, come up against authority figures who disapproved of me and my methods. I recall a time at Junior School (probably aged 10) when the class were each given an A3 sheet of paper and told to fold if in half. I put the sheet on my little desk, carefully matched the corners and, holding them in place with both hands, I pressed down the centre of the “fold” with my elbow to crease it in the middle. Then I used my elbow like a windscreen wiper to finish the fold. Job Done.
Suddenly my name was called by the teacher. I went to her, and she held my arm with the one hand while slapping the back of my calf with the other.
“Don’t ever let me see you do that again she said”
Having learned that the best way to deal with incomprehensible criticism was to look sad and say ‘Sorry’, I put on a suitable expression and said, “Sorry Miss”
On my return to my desk I had a moment of illumination. She hadn’t liked the way I folded my sheet of paper!!
I got up and went back to her.
“Excuse me miss, Did you slap me because of how I folded my paper?”
“Yes Ian”
“But it’s perfectly folded without any wrinkles on the seam… but if you didn’t like me using my elbow, I won’t do it that way again.”
I thought she looked a bit taken aback, but she just said, “Thank you Ian, Go and get on with your work.”
I didn’t know at the time but some parents - not mine - had complained that this lady was too free with her hands on their children.
Now, Aged 67, yesterday I went to a meeting at a church in a local town. Afterwards I cut across some suburbs to a retail park. I was a bit confused by a new layout and had to awkwardly swap lanes several times. Driving through the retail park I arrived at a crossroads with a mini roundabout. It was quite worn and tyre marked as were the dashes where those approaching it should give way. Coming towards me was a navy car with L plates and a driving school advertisement on the roof
I thought it was coming a bit fast, so I checked the driver. There was only one occupant, so I deduced that it must be the instructor, and not an incompetent pupil. Crossing the give way dashes before she did I turned right, found the store I wanted, and parked.
After browsing unsuccessfully I was returning to my car when a lady, parked about three cars down, stepped up to me and called to me.
“You nearly crashed into me.” She said accusingly.
Completely taken aback I held up my hands and said, “Sorry I was a bit lost.” Which I had been. I thought I’d cut when changing lanes earlier and she’d come all this way to tell me.
“I just thought I’d tell you” She said, quite pleasantly. We got into our cars and drove away.
I racked my brains as I drove, Worried that I’d had a completely blind moment earlier. I thought I had kept a sharp look out despite the lane confusion.
Then the penny dropped. This was the driving instructor lady. SHE had failed to give way at the mini roundabout and she thought I had turned right straight across her bonnet. She was treating the mini roundabout as if it wasn’t there and she had right of way!
No wonder I thought she had been approaching it a bit fast.
But how infuriating. Another self opinionated authority figure with self assured righteousness giving out unmerited criticism! I wished I had realised the truth earlier. I could have walked her back to the junction and pointed out her error.
Then I thought of Provers 15-v1 a Soft answer turns away wrath. - Or as I learnt as a child. Say “Sorry” keep your mouth shut and your head down.
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