Massimo Pigliucci

But it was not just the fact in itself.

It was the inconceivability that somebody would be so clueless or so inconsiderate to actually do that kind of thing.

Oh, yeah.

You know, there are some people apparently who have not realized that we invented these wonderful things called earbuds.

You can put them in your ear and not bother anybody.

And I thought often, you know, when I used to get upset about the subway experience, I thought,

Maybe one of these days I just have to come into the subway with a very large boom box.

And as soon as I hear somebody doing that, turn my own at the highest possible volume to show him what it's going to happen.

You know, as a teaching lesson, not in a vindictive way, but as a teaching lesson.

You see what would happen if everybody were doing that?

I never actually did it, but it's been in the back of my mind for a while.

Marcus says, why do you expect people to be different from what they are?

That's insane.

That's just crazy.

You know that people are in a certain way.

There is a place in the meditation when he says, you know, remember when you get up in the morning and you get out of the door, remind yourself that you will encounter all sorts of inconsiderate people who will do all sorts of things that you don't like.

This is just a fact of life.

Now, you can deal with the situation.

In some cases, you can correct them.

I don't want to give the impression that stoicism is about just laying back and taking it, right?