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in the image: drawings at Atama Gallery, Dallas TX

It is admirable how politically correct people in the United States can be.  To the extent that this correctness is not a ridiculous behavior but a great lesson in empathy and tolerance.

There was this guy in the steam room which decided there was too much fog inside, so he started opening and closing the door repeatedly.  This is what I presumed, but one guy inside the steam room decided to ask and not to presume.

-    Excuse me, what are you trying to do?

It was the perfect question.

It would have been aggressive to say “don’t do that!”. It is an order.

It would have been impolite to say “what are you doing?”. It would be questioning his behavior.

“What are you trying to do?” reveals that he might be trying to do something that is not apparent to me, according to my upbringing, or that it could be improved in some way without previously judging his abilities: we could give him better options if we learnt about his ultimate intentions.

Baylor Health Center, Dallas TX, September 2015