Dr. House had suffered a painful affliction to his leg, which left him walking only with the aid of a cane and demanding painkilling drugs. His use or abuse of Vicodin has arguably saved the lives of patients, who suffer from bizarre illnesses and allergies, ranging from environmental allergies to a staph infection. He also reads in to his medical colleague's and patient's personal lives. Their actions, right down to their food or clothing, reveal something to him that helps solve a mystery.
On the other hand, Dr. House has absolute zero bedside manner. He is uncouth, rude, insensitive, and arrogant. As one patient put it, "he has to be the best doctor here, otherwise he'd get fired for talking like he does!"
So, I respect Dr. House, even though he's a fictional character. In my line of work, I sometimes feel like I have puzzles similar to his. I am a computer technician, so people come to me with problems. I do enjoy the ones that are more difficult, especially when it is a problem that the normal layman would not be able to figure out on his own. When I solve the trouble, I tend to feel a little kinship to the doctor from the TV show, and want to exhibit the same behavior as he does.
To be honest, I don't think I could ever be as rude as the character of Dr. House, but I'd like to try, just for a day. I imagine that the day would be something like this:
Staff member: Oh Phil, I know you're busy but...
Phil: You don't care.
Staff member: What?
Phil: You don't care.
Staff member: What do you mean?
Phil: I mean, you started out a conversation with 'I know you're busy but,' and you're going to ask me a question anyway, meaning that you don't care that I'm busy. Plus, if you did care, you wouldn't bother to tell me that you know that I'm busy, because that would waste both of our time. So, you don't care that I'm busy, because you think your issue is much more important than the thing that is keeping me busy. So, in a nutshell, you don't care that I'm busy.
Or-at a convenience store:
Phil: I'll have this cup of coffee and a donut.
Clerk: OK-that'll be $1.95.
Phil: Here you go. Thank you.
Clerk: Not a problem.
Phil: Well, I certainly hope it's not a problem. But, what you've said implies that it will be a problem some time in the future. So, next time it's a problem, tell me when I walk in the door so I won't be the source of any of your problems. I know it is a pain to work day in and day out, but it is a job, and you are getting paid for it, and since I'm not asking for anything above and beyond what you're getting paid for, I assume that it shouldn't be a problem ever. So maybe, instead of saying 'Not a Problem,' maybe you should reply with 'You're Welcome.'
Finally, while walking to the men's room:
Staff member: Oh Phil, I have a question.
Phil: says nothing
Staff member: I was working at a computer today. Can you tell me how to make it do something I want it to do?
Phil: Oh, you have a question, and you want me to answer it.
Staff member: Yes
Phil: Oh, I see. Just because I'm walking to the men's room and you announce to me that you have a question, that means that I'm obliged to stop for you and to answer your question. You apparently don't need to do anything more than just declare that fact, that you have a question, and then that means that I have to answer it for you, no matter what is going on. That's amazing, that your words don't even have to be preceded with a 'pardon me, may I ask you a question,' or 'excuse me, may I have a moment of your time.'
By the way, 'I was working at a computer today' is a statement, not a question.
