We've all heard it, and we've all been criticized because of it. From those "snotty Europeans" to old grannies, the range and variety of these critics is simply put, really big.

I'm talking about American rudeness.

More specifically, amongst teenagers this day and age. I had the unfortunate chance of encountering such rudeness personally today...yet again.

It occured during 3rd period today-- Spanish I to be exact. We were plodding along in our lessons, doing bookwork and other such activities as usual. Alas, then there arrived the time where we must do two activites on a separate sheet of paper. The activities weren't so bad, they were actually pretty damn easy.

Bam! (Excuse me for the rather outdated choice of interjection) The kid sitting in front of me turn around and ask me for a piece of paper. Now he hadn't particularly asked for paper any time in the past, and if he ever did, it wasn't much. However, I really didn't have much paper to spare (plus, C&E was next period), nor was I in a mood to give him any. So I tell him I haven't got any to give him, but problem is, there's a blank sheet of paper sitting on top of my desk and some in my semi-open binder, maybe 5 or 6 pages (which I needed to do my own work).

He asks for the paper sitting on my desk first, then from the very few left in my binder (which he forcibly tried to take after I said no), and finally, upon seeing my algebra 2 notebook, he tried to take some from there.

Each time, my answer was no due to the fact that I needed the paper myself and I had none to spare, or in the case of the algebra 2 notebook, I didn't really want to give him any.

After the exchange, he proceeded to insult me, of which he seemed to be fond of the word "f**." I reply back by telling him that I'm not Wal-Mart, and a pack of paper costs maybe a dollar, so go buy some. Then some more insults are exchanged before the girl next to me gives him a handful of paper.

Back then while it was going on, and even now, I am amazed at the mindset of people like him. The rudeness and vanity just perplexes me. He had the nerve to come unprepared with paper (and this was nearly every single day), ask me for some and when I refused, tried to forcibly take some, then when that failed, began insulting me.

It really seems to be a problem here in America, where people like him seem to think that it's a natural-born right to get what they want without question, without respect, and that others should automatically comply with and accept such behavior. What gives him the right to insult me when he's the one asking for paper? To be given paper, insignificant or not, is an act of generosity, not a duty. The item is mine, to be determined by me whether to be given away or not, not him, the beggar.

And this is by no means at all an isolated incident. It occurs everyday, in every class, especially with items like pencil or paper. The ones without simply don't have those because they're too lazy to remember to bring them. They forget it's their responsibility, and insult others when they refuse to bail them out of their lack of responsibility. They think it's within their right to demand and be fulfilled that demand, and when it's not, insult the one they begged. Not all of them do this, but enough do to make me mad. Everyday this happens, and I'm tired of it. Not only the fact that it's my paper being constantly demanded and given ("taken") away, but more so the attitude and idea those people hold.

It's a damn shame what's happened to showing a little respect and responsibility. A damn shame indeed.