Causing trouble in an empty house

My husband has a great phrase to describe folk who seem to upset others, either deliberately or without thinking, “S/he could cause trouble in an empty house!” I’m sure you know people who like this,people who say things without caring that they upset others ,speaking their mind or calling a spade a spade, they would say. They seem to be able to provoke others and yet do it with an air of innocence and a sort of I’m-only-saying-this-for-your-own-good look on their face.

I’ve had classes where there have been one or two pupils like this, who while doing nothing actually wrong, or nothing they themselves could be reprimanded for, are able to cause all sorts  of strife and antagonism between others, while standing on the side lines surveying the carnage. I don’t mean this literally, such folk seem to enjoy verbal attrition rather than actual fisticuffs. As a teacher I was swift to target such young people, finding away to make sure they knew that I saw through their outraged innocence when I challenged them on ‘starting it’.

Causing trouble in a n empty house is something I associate with young people, it’s a sign of immaturity to my mind, and so it surprises me when I find adults who seem to relish doing this. I shouldn’t be surprised really, some people never grow up – and I don’t mean that in a complimentary way. Not growing up if you retain a child-like wonder at the world, an innocent delight in simple things, a trust and belief in the goodness of others is a gift. Not growing up when you behave like an attention seeking child who wants to manipulate others and yet remain a pious bystander is annoying at the best, troubling at the worst.

There was a recent spat on a Facebook page I ‘like’… someone made a comment which escalated into a furious exchange of bad-tempered remarks, name-calling and people leaving the page. I made a comment about the foolishness of the whole thing but secretly wanted to write “OI! YOU’D CAUSE TROUBLE IN AN EMPTY HOUSE, YOU WOULD!”