One of the hardest jobs in any industry is the point of contact person who has to deal directly with members of the public. Some members of the public are pleasant, and patient. Some are not. The point of contact person has to deal with them all, while trying to do what the company requires......and that is to sell you a product that you WANT.
Now, picture the poor patrolman. When he or she contacts you, the big question first is who are you? Are you Grandmaw Groceries coming back from the store? Or are you Tookie Williams' Lieutenant who has sworn not to go back to Penguin Bay?
After that, Officer Friendly has to inform you that you may be receiving a ticket for some infraction of the many rules, regulations, and laws that legislatures promulgate in bewildering numbers.
You, on the other hand, just want to get to work before the boss strokes out, or to school to pick up your kids before the Principal starts calling CPS. It may just not be a good day, since you just had a knock-down drag-out verbal confrontation with your significant other, and you just spilled your maximum-froth expensive latte right in your lap.
This is not a formula for happy inter-personal communication, is it? :huh:
Considering all of that, it is surprising how many officers manage to be quite pleasant about the whole thing, and how many citizens do the same. It is just that small percentage on both sides that makes the biggest ruckus!
