I try to separate the unreasonable into two groups: those that are on the level, and those that are not.

I have read that often a person who is obnoxious is actually afraid. I just saw that at the post office, where a single mother hadn't received her paycheck on time. She was very demanding, but she had a real problem. She had to pay her rent and buy food. But she was too upset (and probably afraid) to believe that it was her employer's responsibility to get her paid, not the clerk at the post office.

The clerk stayed calm throughout, but the woman stomped off, no better off than when she came in. Several people in the post office complimented the clerk on her composure after the mother was gone.

But other people can be obnoxious out of malice or not doing their homework. I have no time for people who enjoy making trouble, or who get a smug sense of power from making others afraid.

I might contribute a fact or two, but I'm not going to try to reform them.