Monday, June 9, 2008

grammer lessun.

I am working with PennDOT again this summer. inevitably, this means that i am meeting new and interesting people. this year, instead of being out on a big highway, i am working on a bridge project and a stretch of road that runs through West Kittanning. this means that in addition to building a new bridge and road, i am also constantly dealing with people and business owners who are upset at the roadwork that is taking place. Saturday was especially bad. I had one man come up to me who was just looking for someone at whom he could whine about the flaggers and how inefficient traffic control was running at that particular moment. he said to me (and i quote as best as i can remember) "that one flagger was just so indignant. i am surprised he can even feed himself."
whoah. hold up. i think we have a bigger issue at hand here than an upset flagger. lets check out these definitions:

in·dig·nant [in-dig-nuh nt] (adjective)
feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base

ig·no·rant [ig-ner-uh nt] (adjective)
lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.

it is very believable that the flagger was indeed being indignant. they were having a bad day. however, that would have no effect on his ability to feed himself. i think this particular complainer was in fact more ignorant than the "indignant" flagger he was complaining about. i'm surprised he could even feed himself.

2 comments:

Abi said...

very perceptive to know what word he meant. I love your job.

Miss Brenda said...

Maybe the complainer was so indignant he couldn't think straight.