'Excuse me.'

Say it like you mean it.

“Excuse me!” I bark as I shove past a pot-bellied, middle-aged dad—my backpack slung over my shoulder, neck pillow bouncing in the stale air. We’re at the gate at Salt Lake City International Airport and I’ve got 15 minutes to make a connecting flight to Portland, Oregon.

“I-have-a-connecting flight-I’m-so-sorry-pardon-me-I’m-in-a-rush-I-can’t -miss-this-flight!”

Now, several feet past him with a deliberate forward lunge in my step, I hear him bark, “We have a connection TOO!”

Eyes on the prize, I rattle an apology, but he’s not having it as he berates me for my selfishness with “I hope you miss your fucking flight!”

I’ve been on both sides of this situation. As a longtime New York City resident, I quickly learned that you could live your dying days on the A train if you don't talk and move simultaneously. But I’ve also suffered at the elbow of many a influencer content creator. Which isn’t to speak poorly of the lot. I’ve met incredible people during my years as a travel editor (here are eight) who are both gracious and amazingly talented.

But there is a particular breed of content creator whose life worth hinges on their social media presence, which means 24/7 in front of the camera. Of course, you could substitute “content creator” for a Karen at your local Starbucks, the overzealous patron at your favorite bar, or literally anyone leaving a Broadway theatre.

1MC takeaway: I’d like to say I’ll change. Or we, as a culture, will change. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I’m still talking about “Excuse me.” What were you thinking? Maybe about the dramatic power shift happening in DC on Monday? That went dark real quick. How about—at least for a bit—we take a collective breath before barking commands at each other?