Well, let me tell you, this thing called show contempt, it ain’t good. It’s like poison, slow and sneaky. You see it all the time, people looking down their noses at each other.
My old man, bless his soul, used to say, “Treat folks how you wanna be treated.” And he was right. This contempt, it’s just the opposite of that.
What it Looks Like, This Contempt
- Rolling your eyes when someone’s talking. Like you can’t even be bothered to listen.
- That sneer, you know the one. Makes you look like you smelled something bad.
- Calling folks names. That just ain’t right, no matter how mad you are.
- Making fun of someone, and not in a nice way. Mean jokes, that’s what they are.
- Talking down to people, like they’re stupid. We all got something to offer, I always say.
This show contempt, it’s like a disease. It spreads, you see. One person starts acting all high and mighty, and then the next one does it too. Before you know it, everyone’s looking down on everyone else.
And for what? Makes no sense to me. We’re all just trying to get by in this world. No need to be making it harder on each other.
Why It’s Bad, This Contempt
Well, for starters, it hurts people. Nobody likes to be looked down on. It makes you feel small, like you ain’t worth nothing. That’s no way to live, I tell ya.
And it messes up relationships. Husbands and wives, friends, families, this show contempt, it can tear them apart. You can’t build nothing good on a foundation of disrespect. It just don’t work that way.
My grandma, she used to have this saying. “Kindness costs nothing, but it’s worth everything.” And that’s the truth. If we all just showed a little more kindness, a little less of this show contempt, the world would be a whole lot better.
You see these folks on the TV, always arguing, always putting each other down. That ain’t the way to solve problems. You gotta listen, you gotta try to understand where the other person’s coming from.
And this thing called “in contempt”, like in court. Well, that means you ain’t respecting the judge, or the law. And that’s gonna land you in hot water, let me tell you. Same thing with people, if you’re always “in contempt,” showing no respect, ain’t nobody gonna want to be around you.
How to Stop It, This Show Contempt
It ain’t easy, I’ll grant you that. We all get mad sometimes, we all get frustrated. But we gotta try to do better. We gotta try to remember that everyone’s got their own struggles, their own stories.
- Think before you speak. Is what you’re about to say gonna help, or is it just gonna hurt?
- Try to see things from the other person’s point of view. Even if you don’t agree, at least try to understand.
- Treat everyone with respect, even if you don’t like them. It’s just the right thing to do.
- If you mess up, and you will, we all do, apologize. A simple “I’m sorry” can go a long way.
This show contempt, it’s a choice. We can choose to be kind, or we can choose to be mean. It’s up to us. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather choose kindness. It just feels better, you know? Like a warm hug on a cold day.
I remember this one time, my neighbor, she was going through a rough patch. Lost her job, husband left her, the whole nine yards. And some folks, they started talking. Whispering behind her back, making her feel even worse. That ain’t right.
So, I went over there, brought her a pie. Didn’t say much, just sat with her, let her talk. She needed someone to listen, not to judge. And you know what? It helped. She told me later, it meant the world to her. Show contempt would have made her feel worse, but a little kindness, made her feel a bit better.
We gotta remember, we’re all in this together. This life, it’s a bumpy ride. We gotta help each other out, not tear each other down. This show contempt, it ain’t got no place in a good life. Kindness, respect, that’s the way to go. You mark my words.
So next time you see someone show contempt, you do something different. You show them kindness. You show them respect. It might just change their day. It might even change their life. And it’ll definitely make you feel better too, and that’s no bad thing.
My momma always used to say, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” And it’s the same with people. You show contempt, you push people away. You show kindness, you bring them closer. And who doesn’t want to be closer to people, to have good friends, good family? I know I do. Show contempt just ain’t worth it, not in the long run.
