Rudeness is the new normal

[razz]

While some are ranting at Trump, others are ranting and shooting both mouth and guns. Has the world changed that much?

Yesterday, I waited in a line of 8 cars at the carwash to clean my car. Someone came out of nowhere on the side and try to cut in front of me for the next wash stall that became available. I simply moved in the line and drove in. It was a young woman who cut off the driver in line behind me and took the stall on my right that someone had just left. She got out of her car and ranted and screamed at me for taking my stall and not letting her have it. I pointed out all the cars waiting in line behind me. I was called everything in the book until I just started laughing at her foolishness. She had a carwash stall, could get the job done and move on but chose to rant at me instead.

Is rudeness the new normal? Do the current population of politicians contribute to the rudeness making it an acceptable behaviour? Is being perpetually angry the way of life today? I have not seen this before but have read about it.

[iris lilies]

While some are ranting at Trump, others are ranting and shooting both mouth and guns. Has the world changed that much?

Yesterday, I waited in a line of 8 cars at the carwash to clean my car. Someone came out of nowhere on the side and try to cut in front of me for the next wash stall that became available. I simply moved in the line and drove in. It was a young woman who cut off the driver in line behind me and took the stall on my right that someone had just left. She got out of her car and ranted and screamed at me for taking my stall and not letting her have it. I pointed out all the cars waiting in line behind me. I was called everything in the book until I just started laughing at her foolishness. She had a carwash stall, could get the job done and move on but chose to rant at me instead.

Is rudeness the new normal? Do the current population of politicians contribute to the rudeness making it an acceptable behaviour? Is being perpetually angry the way of life today? I have not seen this before but have read about it.

i wonder if she had mental problems. Lets be charitable and think that she did. Its hard to rationalize such extreme selfshness.

[freshstart]

that's a good way to look at it

[iris lilies]

Or maybe she was inebriated.

[mschrisgo2]

Yes, I do think rudeness is the new normal. Unfortunately, I see it every day, and have had it directed at me when there was just no reason for it at all. Every (presidential) election year, it gets worse, because it IS modeled by the politicians.

This morning at church I sat in the far back corner, where I could very unobtrusively move the chair beside me enough to elevate my arm in the full cast. A woman and her husband came and sat down beside my "arm" chair. (there were empty seats in the rows in front of us.) About 10 minutes into the service, she grabbed the chair and yanked it away!! My arm fell, I gasped out loud- it was extremely painful- and she glared it me. I said, "why did you do that? That was extremely painful!" She says to me, "then you should have stayed home!" WTH-??

She was clearly venting some anger from some where on me, and it was rude and totally out of line.

One of the ushers saw the whole thing, and came over and said to the woman, ever so sweetly, "I'm so, so sorry! you must be in the wrong church- we practice compassion here."

[ctg492]

Yes I believe this is the new normal, what is normal anyhow anymore. Sad.

[Williamsmith]

Best way to handle a rude person is to be silent until the person stops talking or finishes the action and then ask, "Are you done?" Always have your everyday carry weapon ready just in case. Of course, there is the option of flight which might best serve you 99.9% of the time. Rudeness can escalate to deadly violence in a heart beat.

Having said the above, I still find rudeness to be the exception. Unless you happen to get caught in WalMart on a bad day.

[freshstart]

She was clearly venting some anger from some where on me, and it was rude and totally out of line.

One of the ushers saw the whole thing, and came over and said to the woman, ever so sweetly, "I'm so, so sorry! you must be in the wrong church- we practice compassion here."

score!

[Ultralight]

This morning at church I sat in the far back corner, where I could very unobtrusively move the chair beside me enough to elevate my arm in the full cast. A woman and her husband came and sat down beside my "arm" chair. (there were empty seats in the rows in front of us.) About 10 minutes into the service, she grabbed the chair and yanked it away!! My arm fell, I gasped out loud- it was extremely painful- and she glared it me. I said, "why did you do that? That was extremely painful!" She says to me, "then you should have stayed home!" WTH-??

"H-E-double hockey sticks" for her, I am certain!

[kib]

I'm noticing not so much out and out rudeness as an attitude of "you're not cool enough for me to be nice to you." Maybe what I perceive as cold and uncommunicative is just the new norm. I had an appointment with a new PCP the other day and while she seemed perfectly competent, she was also nearly mute, letting me speak but giving me no feedback beyond a look that said, "you're strange, are you finished yet"? I felt like I had to censor myself, that I was being judged, which is not exactly what you want to feel toward the person you need to be completely open toward. Bleh.

[Ultralight]

Too much time looking into a screen and not enough time looking into the faces of your community members.

[Gregg]

Too much time looking into a screen and not enough time looking into the faces of your community members.

I was having basically the same thoughts. Friendship is now defined by Facebook. Interaction is bouncing ideas off each other in online forums (if you're lucky enough to have even that...this). Get off work, head home, turn on the tube and shut out the world. Not to mention what you actually see when the tube comes on! Fractured communities where no one relies on anyone else for anything or for that matter even knows anyone else. We deserve to be left alone damnit! Life is pre-packaged, pre-processed, sterile. I'm not sure rudeness is the new norm so much as its lashing out when we feel threatened that someone intruded into our sense of isolation and/or entitlement.

[Ultralight]

I was having basically the same thoughts. Friendship is now defined by Facebook. Interaction is bouncing ideas off each other in online forums (if you're lucky enough to have even that...this). Get off work, head home, turn on the tube and shut out the world. Not to mention what you actually see when the tube comes on! Fractured communities where no one relies on anyone else for anything or for that matter even knows anyone else. We deserve to be left alone damnit! Life is pre-packaged, pre-processed, sterile. I'm not sure rudeness is the new norm so much as its lashing out when we feel threatened that someone intruded into our sense of isolation and/or entitlement.

Awesome rant! :)

[razz]

Well, after day and a half of regular contact with the usual number of strangers out walking their dogs or children in strollers, I cheerfully greeted everyone and got the same cheerful response. Cheerful contacts with family members and friends as well throughout Sunday restored my faith in humanity. I suppose I was so shocked because it had never happened to me before so tried to find an explanation.

Love that usher's response to very hurtful behaviour, Chris.

[Ultralight]

Well, after day and a half of regular contact with the usual number of strangers out walking their dogs or children in strollers, I cheerfully greeted everyone and got the same cheerful response. Cheerful contacts with family members and friends as well throughout Sunday restored my faith in humanity. I suppose I was so shocked because it had never happened to me before so tried to find an explanation.

Psha! Canadians! LOL

[Teacher Terry]

I loved the usher's response too. I can't believe someone would do that. I noticed it is much worse in bigger cities then other places. When I walk my dog I talk to everyone and always get nice responses even from teens/college students, etc. Many times they will come over to me to pet my dog.

[pinkytoe]

I grew up in a time and place where people were respectful and courteous towards each other which is a habit I have not been able to break. I get strange looks now when I say excuse me when passing in front of someone as I was taught to do. I think our present culture often fosters a sense of isolation and mistrust towards others which causes people to become defensive. I even see it in neighborhood forums where a simple matter turns into a shout-a-thon of my way or the highway. I still meet friendly people here and there but am no longer surprised when I witness rude or selfish behavior.

[KayLR]

Yes, I do think rudeness is the new normal. Unfortunately, I see it every day, and have had it directed at me when there was just no reason for it at all. Every (presidential) election year, it gets worse, because it IS modeled by the politicians.

This morning at church I sat in the far back corner, where I could very unobtrusively move the chair beside me enough to elevate my arm in the full cast. A woman and her husband came and sat down beside my "arm" chair. (there were empty seats in the rows in front of us.) About 10 minutes into the service, she grabbed the chair and yanked it away!! My arm fell, I gasped out loud- it was extremely painful- and she glared it me. I said, "why did you do that? That was extremely painful!" She says to me, "then you should have stayed home!" WTH-??

She was clearly venting some anger from some where on me, and it was rude and totally out of line.

One of the ushers saw the whole thing, and came over and said to the woman, ever so sweetly, "I'm so, so sorry! you must be in the wrong church- we practice compassion here."

Just wow. Good on your usher!

[KayLR]

Get off work, head home, turn on the tube and shut out the world. Not to mention what you actually see when the tube comes on! Fractured communities where no one relies on anyone else for anything or for that matter even knows anyone else. We deserve to be left alone damnit! Life is pre-packaged, pre-processed, sterile. I'm not sure rudeness is the new norm so much as its lashing out when we feel threatened that someone intruded into our sense of isolation and/or entitlement.

I totally agree with this--and much of what is on tee-vee these days is modeling rudeness. Smart-a$$, disrespectful, unempathetic, and self-obsessed behavior.

[Ultralight]

I totally agree with this--and much of what is on tee-vee these days is modeling rudeness. Smart-a$$, disrespectful, unempathetic, and self-obsessed behavior.

Amen, sistah!

[Rogar]

I could go one about how I think people have become more insecure and fearful, and that has manifested into anger and rudeness, but it would mostly be a rant. People seem to be especially bold when they are in the protection of a ton or two of automobile rubber and steel. It's hard to ignore these things totally, but I typically figure these people are miserable and angry outside of these incidents and that is the life they have to live with.

[Ultralight]

I could go one about how I think people have become more insecure and fearful, and that has manifested into anger and rudeness, but it would mostly be a rant. People seem to be especially bold when they are in the protection of a ton or two of automobile rubber and steel. It's hard to ignore these things totally, but I typically figure these people are miserable and angry outside of these incidents and that is the life they have to live with.

Rant. Do it!

[rodeosweetheart]

Not in Georgia, where I spent the weekend. Saw lots of kindness and pleasantness, all over the place.

[Kestra]

In Yellowknife as well, people are amazingly friendly and patient and polite. I've never experienced anything like it. That'll be the biggest downside of moving back to the big city.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I've read these replies with interest. I consider myself lucky to live in the neighborhood I do and even though I'm not presently living in the house I own 1/2 of, I know many kindly and decent people that I trust and feel honored to know. That being said, I've been with some of these people up North a bit (in a "nicer" area) and have seen their rude side, too. I can see in some cases where such behavior is socioeconomic......but I'd also agree that some people are just mean and nasty as a sport.

I love what that usher said!!!!! Rob

[ctg492]

Three way stop in town, more rudeness then imaginable there. Ok I kinda cringe when I get there and there are a few cars. If I am not clearly first by a long shot I flag someone on. Just now several cars on each side, I was second to go clearly, I proceeded and after I started the man across went fast and swerved to pretend to hit me to show he felt he was before me. I told myself he had a bad day, he was late for work, but in the end all I could think was rude and dumb**.

[Cypress]

I wonder if it has to do with more and more people in the same space? I don't hear much about overpopulation anymore. When I was growing up it was common talk in the 1970s, there was a strong movement to be aware of what the planet could safely feed and support. I took it to heart and keep waiting to hear this from news reports. I read about China now changing the one child policy per family. I understand India is the 2nd largest population. Is it more people sharing the same space and getting crabbier? Too many people competing for limited resources. I went to my bank this Saturday morning hoping for customer service. I am going to travel soon and want to get my foreign money before I go. Saturday is one of the busier customer days I would guess, only one person to do more complex procedures that the teller cannot manage. I would have thought management would put two people to support working folks. So, I left after 10 minutes and will try again Thursday when they are open until 7 pm. I have limited time and sometimes, it's hard to get things done. I use the loop system and never go out without several things happening on my journey. I try to bundle activity early in the day to save on time. Sometimes it works and others not.