Has the world gone raving rude?

[SueC]

I hear ya! I'm always astounded when I'm in a crowded place and people neglect to say "excuse me" if they bump into somebody. Or don't say "thank you" when somebody holds a door open for them. I guess people are just rude and/or lazy.

[migirl]

I know, I'm continually amazed at the lack of people's manners these days. This isn't exactly the same thing, but yesterday I was walking into work and this guy in front of me didn't bother holding the doors into the building open after himself so that they would swing shut in my face after he passed through. I'm not saying that he had to hold doors open for me because I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself, but geez - give a pregnant lady a break!

BTW - funeral rage? That's a new one for me!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9692880/

I think some of it has to do with distraction, some of it has to do with perceived respect and entitlement.

People are overworked and tired and unsure of what will happen next, juggling too many things and not being present in the moment.



I think the collective self-esteem of people is at a real low, so they take their frustration out on others by being rude to let off some steam and feel powerful.

Here's my tangential addition on rudeness -- clean up your freaking dog poop!! Especially outside my daughter's school! I swear, you can tell who does this by the people who look around to see if anyone noticed their dog poop and then upon noticing sigh and take out the bag.

Ditto for the neighbors who let their dog run around and poop at will. Just because I clean up after my dog, I don't want to clean up one more turd than I have to.
but I don't really have much of an opinion about this....

I think there is an element of self-responsibility in some of this rudeness too.

[DCJenn]

You know, I have decided to be nice to everyone. Smile, say hi, etc. I spend my walks with MY dog and MY kid cleaning up trash. I just do it- I hate litter and people don't seem to care so I arm myself with a couple grocery bags and make it a lesson in personal responsibility for Nikolai. I also wrote a letter to the homeowners association about the dog poop problem we have (in the kiddie park, no less).

I figure maybe it does help if one person can start it. Since I got back with NIkolai I also let people in front of me, even if they totally don't deserve it. I'm not risking my kid because someone is too stupid to realize that no, really, when they say the lane is ending, it means for everyone...

But generally, people can suck!

Jenn

Jenn,
You are much nicer than I am! It's all I can take to not return the pooh I scoop in the front yard. But then I suppose that would turn into poop rage, right? I will scoop for peace.

I'm not saying that he had to hold doors open for me because I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself, but geez - give a pregnant lady a break!

Ok, that guy should be ashamed of himself! I think people should be considerate enough to hold doors open for anybody ESPECIALLY a pregnant woman. And when I hold the door open for someone else, I expect a thank you....or if that is just too much work, then at least a smile and a nod.

My biggest gripe are when drivers do not yield to pedestrians. People just do not get it that pedestrians have the right of way. I found that people in California (oddly enough) would always yield, but the case is very different here in the South....which is odd since Southerners have the reputation of being well mannered.

Oh, and don't get me started about when a new register opens and someone from the end of the line cuts over to the new register. If the person who was supposed to be next is too mild mannered to speak up, then I will definitely say something.

Some people really suck. I have one word for them...KARMA! :>

[PrincessFiona]

We were at a hotel this w/e during our move. There were tons of pool toys laying around and my almost 2 year old found a little football...so I was throwing it to both him and Alex near the pool...assuming that it belonged to the hotel like many of the other toys. We played with it for about 10 minutes and then a 13 year old boy came up to me and said (quite rudely) "Ummm..can I have MY BALL back?" I of course graciously handed it to him and was trying to explain that I didn't realize it belonged to anyone when he ripped it out of my hand and walked to the table next to ours where his parents both proceeded to give us dirty looks....he then put it in a bag under the table while looking at me and then jumped back into the water.

I hate to break it to the little snot, but he left his football just sitting out on the ground near the pool.....what...my 2 year old couldn't toss it around a little? I was just so shocked...especially by the rudeness.

kris

[Meenah]

People suck.

My favorite is when your walking through the parking lot of some establishment, for me ususally walmart, toteing two or sometimes three children, in the cold and or rain. But will cars stop so you can get out of the elements quickly? HECK NO!! They obviously are more inconvenienced having to sit and wait in their nice warm cars!
Jerks.

[Sheherezade]

I've actually had people *laugh* at me when I've been overloaded with packages and small children walking home in foul weather. Honestly--I thought I'd just cry when I finally made it home. What's that all about? I walk regularly and generally people are pedestrian friendly. I have been hit twice by cars (luckily never seriously) in crosswalks when the people barrelled through to make a right on red. It always happens in places that don't have many pedestrians. I think it just doesn't occur to them that someone might be walking and that walking in foul weather with a bunch of stuff isn't fun. I also wonder if people aren't just a tad overcaffeinated these days...... :coffee :coffee :coffee =

[spotty_dog]

I have been hit twice by cars (luckily never seriously) in crosswalks when the people barrelled through to make a right on red. It always happens in places that don't have many pedestrians. I think it just doesn't occur to them that someone might be walking and that walking in foul weather with a bunch of stuff isn't fun

Oooh, I hate that so MUCH! I have trouble being passive about it too, but ever since I got hit by a car on my bike, I am less apt to jump straight out in front of them and stare them down if they act impatient...

Oooh, I hate that so MUCH! I have trouble being passive about it too, but ever since I got hit by a car on my bike, I am less apt to jump straight out in front of them and stare them down if they act impatient...

I used to do that too until I had my son. Now I just glare at them as I jump out of the way.

In parking lots I make eye contact before they are really close to the crosswalk and stare them down until they stop. Then I smile, give a little wave or nod and scurry across.

[DCJenn]

Warning: if you are ever in DC, particularly on the grounds of the Capitol when a vote is called- get out of the way of any entrance. Seriously, Nikolai and I have nearly been run over any number of times. The Capitol Police try to slow down the drivers but it's hard to combat the "I'm an elected official and I have Official Business of the Nation to conduct" mentality.

Jenn