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One of the things I notice on a daily basis is something known as 'situational ethics'. In essence, it is the way someone treats another human (or an occurance) based on the situation at the time. An example to help the Reader along is a simple one: man goes out to lunch with his boss and is completely deferential to him while at the same time treating the waiter/busser/maitre'd personage like crap. Woman walks into a shoe store and treats the hard-working clerk like the dirt of the earth. We've all done it, yes? I hope not. There is nothing worse than someone who thinks they are superior based on a job, a position, a title. You are not your job. You are not your position. You are not special. You and they are the same human in a different uniform. Their apron and sturdy, slip-proof shoes are no different than your Armani 3-button...its just a uniform you put on in the morning. Next time you see this happen, think.

So, to summarize, some humans treat others based on the situation: if you are my superior I suck up to you. If not I treat you like shit. This is not the worse thing that could happen, but it is surprising that it continues to happen. Naive? Maybe I am. I suffer from a Utopian vision fo how people should behave around one another and after 40 years am still surprised at daily interactions. I would never derive my decision on how to co-exist with those around me based on a position of supposed "power". Power is the ability to treat others with respect and tolerance. Power is the ability to demean someone but choosing not to. Power is the decision to level the playing field for all.