Encroachment: The not so innocent boundary crossers

Over the weekend I happened to be in a rehearsal studio with a bunch of folks playing music, and the time slot that was designated and was paid for by the person who booked it was coming up. So with about 5 minutes left we all began to pack our things, and get out of dodge. When the gentleman who was running the place at the time came out he seemed pleasantly surprised, and he said something I found astonishing. He said "Thank you folks for leaving on time. I usually have to twist arms, and break balls to get some bands out of here when they are supposed to leave." I looked at him and then my friend and we were both completely shocked. It was insinuated that some bands who book time there always try to milk out more time than what they paid for. On the way home I couldn't stop shaking my head, because this is inconceivable to me. Time was booked from something O'clock to something else O'clock, and when your time was up, it was time to leave, because that's what you agreed to do, and what you paid for. I couldn't stop thinking about this little issue, and all of a sudden it hit me why it bothered me so much. Right then is when I thought of Those people that encroach.

To some that particular incident may not be much, and people may be wondering what the big deal is, but the simple fact is that those types of people are the worst kind, and that little act is symptomatic of more things that happen. Most people observe boundaries for the most part. When asked to do something by the rules we all have instances of pushing the envelope, but if that is usually when it doesn't involve anything but circumstances. When other people are involved, usually reasonable people don't like pushing their agendas of encroachment on others. It's human nature to push certain envelopes, but for the most part given rules, and the option to do the right thing, people will choose the right thing, and obeying the rules. The thing about people who practice encroachment is that the little things that they try to cross boundaries for, involve others, and they just don't care. They are always trying to get something extra at the expense of others. And it's usually not because of the lack of ability to achieve something, but just the sheer laziness of preparing themselves to do what is asked by the rules, or someone else.

Boundary crossing by people who encroach is a way to just avoid doing what is asked, or respecting other people who may have a particular stake in something, such as a project, time to be somewhere, or have something done, or obeying laws or rules that are put in place to assure equal opportunities for others. People who encroach want what they want, and others be damned. And instead of doing what they are supposed to do, they nitpick and nitpick at pieces of other people's rocks until they take over that space, or that idea, or that time slot. Why is it an issue? Because the little things such as going past a designated time slot get manipulated into bigger things like taking something from others, because they can. The major reason why this world is so screwed up, is because of the 20% of encroaching people in the world not following the rules that the rest obey. So those 20% cause 80% of the problems. And those people are who their kids learn from, and their kids think it's OK to encroach, and before you know it you have more shitheads just making it difficult for everyone else. And it all stems from little incidences such as pushing for more time than what you pay for.

As I have said before..Situations are easy. People make them difficult, and complicated, because someone is always looking beyond what is supposed to be done, to some other scheme that can benefit them, when if they just engage in what is agreed upon, and supposed to happen, then they would benefit greatly. If they can't adhere to what's supposed to be done, then be honest with themselves and others, and say that they can't honor this particular thing, and excuse themselves. Which would of course not involve angst or agitation from anyone else. It is worse when of group of encroaching folks get together because now there is encouragement, in numbers and and an idea that, "We are right, so we are not obliged to follow the rules". These folks are rampant pains in the asses on society, because they just don't get it. They don't get the idea that what they do affects others, and they can't wrap their minds around the concept that they could possibly be wrong, and or even crossing some boundaries.

So when the manager of the rehearsal studio mentions that he has to break balls to get people out on time, I can't help but imagining those people leaving the studio, and creating chaos for others just because they like to push, and cross boundaries that they shouldn't. When that happens, it's up to those who obey the rules to push back, and tell the encroaching ones to go screw. They are not innocent. They know what they do, and they will continue, and then they will teach others to do the same. This world would be so wonderful if people followed the rules, and did what they said they were going to do, and didn't drag everyone into their fiasco methods of trying to get more than what they are supposed to have. Sometimes boundaries have to be pushed to make something better. Other times just because they can be pushed, doesn't mean that they should be pushed. People who are for the advancement of humanity are in the first category. People who are out for themselves are usually in the second. And the second group causes way more trouble than just stealing time from a studio..They throw their elbows in the face of all of us....As they try to look out for the only people who matter in their eyes...Themselves.