Have Mercy

I felt like doing a Peter Finch in the movie Nework (1976).

Running to the nearest window and sticking my head out and yelling ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not taking this anymore.’

But I didn’t. I just stayed in my seat and suffered.

Suffered in silence from a speaker who talked and talked and talked.

It was evening and I was tired. The speaker started well, was affable and interesting but when he droned on for 9o minutes (an eternity) I was mad.

The speaker was so caught up in his speech he was oblivious to the discomfort and boredom of the audience.

He commited two cardinal sins in speaking – ignoring the reactions of the audience and going well over time.

So the next time you speak in public, don’t punish your audience.

Have mercy.