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Respect Is A Two Way Traffic Thingy

Image source: http://makeameme.org
Do we always have to be rude to touts?

I know a while ago I had problems with them refusing to refund change in the piece the annoying matatu neighbor, but seriously we have to cut this guys some slack. Most of them may not be the most respectful human beings, but we can't judge all of them by the same script.

Ask for change respectfully and the guy or chick will be respectful. Ask rudely and you taste the pepper. It's as though some of us have a certain perception about these guys that we no longer treat them as equals.

 Traveling from Embakassi to town with me was this chick. Lets call her Susan. We get to the jam near railways and the tout announces that anyone who wants to alight the bus should do so then because the next stop will be at the stage. Several people alight and the tout closes the door. The bus moves twenty minutes forward, and Susan decides she has to alight. Note: "has to!"
Conductor: "si nilisema nikifunga mlango sifungui tena hadi stage?"
Susan: "mi nataka kushuka utafanya?"
Conductor gets angry. "we dame tuheshimiane!"

Susan is now at the door demanding it to be opened.
Susan "unataka kunichapa?"

Everyone in the bus now gets involved. (according to my campus days, you do not beat a woman when other men are around because you stand a chance going home toothless or with broken limbs.)

Susan on seeing she has everyone's attention, unleashes some obscenities I would not print here(in case my daughter happens to read this blog someday).
By now we are already past the roundabout headed for stage. An exchange ensues with the conductor even calling Susan prostitute( in Swahili). The two go at it for some time. At some point, it became entertaining and the guys dropped their guard. It became hard to tell who was the bigger fool.

 The tout gave up and let her continue embarrassing herself. We got to stage and as we were alighting Susan tried to hit the tout. A small scuffle ensued before everything was quietened down.

If only Susan had not been rude, all this would not have happened. (but the entertainment part was worth it )
Respect is two way. Give and it will be given back unto you. Especially if you don't own a car, no need to be rude when you will need the same guy tomorrow or another day. Furthermore, Karma has a way of always making sure we repay twofold.
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