Are people more miserable now?

[wizzzard]

I work in a shop where there is a steady flow of people through the doors and i usually give them a cheery greeting and leave them to wander around in peace and quiet.

Not bugging or annoying people has always worked well for me and i have always had a good sales record because of it but people now just seem so impolite, ignorant and verging on down right rude sometimes.

I have noticed this outside work to, for instance in the supermarket people just seem to be barging about without a sorry or an excuse me.

Where have all the happy people gone? is it just me?
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Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[Moonie]

They're all worrying about how they can't really afford to be buying whatever they're there for.

Of course they'll buy it anyways.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
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[owdamer]

Its not just you. I've noticed it. People are just pig ignorant. They go about their own lives and dont give a second thought to how it affects other people. For example,
I was woken up at 2.00am this morning by a taxi pipping his horn outside my house to let whoever he was picking up know he's here. Now i'm sure if I sat outside his house making a row at that time he'd be out to complain, but he can do as he likes obviously.

[hellkat]

We're hiding, from all the grumpy fuckers.

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[pyx_e]

I think that the idea of "manners" has gone out the fecking window. IMHO social cohesion is based on the idea of manners, I know lots of "adults" who are so self centered that the idea of a "thank you" is alien to them and has been since they were born.

It is either that or the peanuts.
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Shiney!
Kawasaki: ER5, Versys, VN900.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

To learn manners is to know your manners.
Parents have the key.

Pat
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Kickstart]

Hi

Do you mean recently (ie, last couple of months), or generally?

Not really noticed it over the last few months, but it is noticeable over the last decade or 2. People have got less sociable. Suspect it has something to do with being social being viewed as too likely to get you into trouble (hold a door open and get some rabod feminist ranting that they can do it themself, say hello to someone at get looked at like you are going to mug them, violence / child abuse talked up in the media, etc).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Dragonfly]

I have noticed that for years now but it has declined even more. I hold doors open for people and they dont even say thanks just ignore me. The other day i was trying to get in my dads car and a women pulled up so close I had to step back on to the curb as I couldnt get in the car. Then she just sat there expecting me the size of a whale here to squeeze in. My dad had to drive up on the curb.

Then the tesco man makes me pick the stuff out of the crates on the floor when I cant even bend down right. He can clearly see I am 40 weeks preg and mentions it just dosnt help. Dont get me wrong I am independant and dot expect it but if I where him I would help.

No one cares anymore, they are all grumpy. I know we are all more broke now but its no excuse for bad manners.

[Tarmacsurfer]

Agreed Keith, I've been thinking about this one a lot recently and I'm fairly sure the rise in mobile communications has also had an effect. When carrying a phone with you there's never any need to leave your own social circle/comfort zone as a safe friend is only a text or call away. It's so much easier to allow general social niceties to atrophy, after all the media is telling us everyone we don't know is most likely out to stab us or otherwise do bad things.

The tin foil hat part of me is thinking it's the logical extension of the divide and conquer tactics that have always been so effective in social control
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[wizzzard]

[Bendy]

[ncrn]

In England yeah I notice it everyone stays away from everyone, you do get the odd person that is decent and you can chat too about nothing if you felt like it.

But when I'm in Scotland visiting my Grandparents and family up there everyone becomes a lot nicer. You come across fair more friendly and happy people, in fact if I go into town with my Granddad we have to stop every 20 meters or so because he's found someone else to chat too, and I do notice its people of all ages not just older people like I'd expect.

One thing I always note is people (me included) tend to walk around listening to mp3 players and so on, which kind of cuts you off from the rest of the world so even if someone felt like saying good morning to you as you walked past you wouldn't notice it..
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Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

[Mr Nice Guy]

It's amusing that so many of us feel the same way.

Would it be 'irony' if the vast majority felt the same way, but just went along with it because "it's what everyone else does"?
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[hellkat]

I don't think that's the case.
Perhaps we all DO say that at some point, I know I do, but usually in matters of courtesy, I do make a point of being polite.

I agree totally with Bendy. Why would you NOT say hello or thank you to the person checking out your shopping? They're a person too. Its very rare that I am talking to someone SO IMPORTANT on my phone that I wouldn't have time to at least smile at the checkout person, or even just make eye contact with someone kind enough to hold open a door for me or offer me a seat on the bus or train. Indeed, even someone who lets me in a gap in my car or on the bike. Politeness costs very little.

I avoided having a mobile phone for quite a long time, using the excuse that I had the bike and could not possibly take calls from anyone at any time. And now with the advent of bluetooth and handsfree, etc etc., its extremely annoying to be beholden to a little plastic box of electronic bits and pieces, and I refuse to be so beholden for the sake of politeness.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Shaun]

Just me who hasn't noticed it then, perhaps this is because I'm one of them people who does speak to people and stuff.

To the op, you're a saes person, therefore everyone doesactually hate you.

[Bendy]

[Kickstart]

[wizzzard]

[Shaun]

[Clanger]

Funnily enough, I've had at least three conversations about this exact topic in the last week or so...

It's worse in the south... people are arrogant and out for themselves, treating people who work in the service industry (especially) as brainless twerps who they have no time for.

Me, I'm bright and breezy and smiley, and think that it costs absolutely nothing to be polite and make pleasant conversation.

I think if this sort of behaviour was challenged a little more often, it might cease to happen.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Dragonfly]

Pretty sad story here about an old lady who was mugged in the street, she was ignored by passers by and later died.
https://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1121642/Woman-81-killed-street-mugging-ignored-passers-called-help.html

[Kickstart]

Hi

A lot of people do seem less inclined to help, and a lot less seem willing to accept help.

Just look how few people you now see hitch hiking (can't remember when I last saw one who wasn't a delivery driver with trade plates).

Break down and few will stop and help.

Suspect part of this is down to peoples need to feel totally safe, with numerous media stories making rare events seem common and so scaring people.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Flip]

[JonB]

I'm quite a calm person, but I have such a great big URGE to clout one of those "chuggers" (pikeys working for charities for about £10 p/h trying to extort cash from me) in the fockin chops. They just won't take no for an answer.

Also hate those leaflet handing people you find in the street. ARGGHGHGH.

The other day I was in a Co-Op and a girl of my age dropped a load of shopping on the floor, I helped pick it up for her and she looked at me as though I was some sort of weirdo. FFS. Can't do anything nice these days.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

My job involves (amongst other things)talking to the general public, landowners etc i'm recognised by the logo & colour of my clothing. I always let-on to people, if they;re approaching then i won't say hello when they're very near, i'll say it earlier when there's more distance. People have time to evaluate me and 90/100 i'll get a smile back and a hello, sometimes a chat if i instigate the old weather routine, thats if i can be arsed !! sometimes just letting-on is enough.
People are more defensive compared to 30yrs ago, for lots of reasons that have been mentioned. But directly underneath that thin layer(in most cases) is an 'alright really' kinda person.
Good mannered people always seem happier in general.

Now fuck off and let me be

Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project