Are people getting ruder and unfriendlier or am I just getting old and grumpy?

I hate the way the world is going..most of the people. What do i do? Nothing ...Im polite, jovial, bubbly, chatty, kind anyway. It may not help others be like that but i feel better that im not adding misery. Had a woman get off bus other week, she said to me 'you are a very kind lady' i was all oh..erm thanks...she said dont think people dont notice...that was nice. All i can think that i did was give up my seat twice (disabled and elderly) and chat to people. I dont do it for recognition, i do it because i like the chat and feeling good about myself and my ethics

I have noticed it and I just think humans are selfish twats in general.

I agree, I find people are always friendly towards me when I go out. It helps I think that I use two walking sticks when walking and so many people go out of their way to hold doors open or help in some way. I also smile at people as I go past and will instigate a conversation if sat on a bench or in a queue. Maybe it’s because I am a bit older as well and people feel sorry for me!

I've just returned from a long trip around Thailand and Vietnam. The service is impeccable and genuine, and such a change from the appalling non-service here.

No I don't agree, there are plenty of lovely polite people in the world, I think it's just what you are noticing at the mo

I think people forgot how to behave around other people during Covid.

And you think that’s a virtue?

For me i cant be bothered with people's crap and dramas so i say it how i see it.
Im very blunt always have been im not gonna sugar coat something to make you feel better id rather be honest.

I half agree in that I think people are slightly more belligerent which predates Covid IMO, but I also think you get back what you put in- I hold doors open for people, chat to the people on the till in my local shop (they see me sometimes twice a day!) and generally go about like that, I also complimented someone on their lovely dog last week, I smile if I see a little baby and in general I get that niceness back. Just be pleasant and well-mannered yourself, and people mostly respond well to that, I think it's a habitual thing so lead the way. I'm not even doing it to be nice, I'm doing it because then people are nice to me and it makes my environment more pleasant, and it works.

I have noticed this - customer services are often downright rude and confrontational these days (I remember when they’d actually try to fix your problem rather than deny all culpability and call you a liar).

People in the streets just barge through you - it used to be ‘ard lads that would do this, now it’s pretty common for people to not move a cm out of their trajectory and in some cases lean into you as they pass (do they think their are in an online game and that they can walk through you?).

YANBU but people will be along soon to blame Covid/Lockdown for this behaviour (it’s used as an excuse for everything these days).

So many people in shops are breathtakingly rude these days. I don't know how staff put up with it.

I hate to say it but more often than not it's pensioners 😬. Have just been in Sainsbury's and there was a couple grumbling about there being 'no customer service' while standing right in the way of the self checkout, blocking it for everyone else.

Was in B&M the other day too and this couple in their 70s kicked off at the till lady because they had picked the wrong flavour biscuits and the staff were too slow in replacing them.

It's like seeing the daily mail comment section out and about.

Yes, the rudeness to our Reception team is unbelievable.

The public are vile these days. It’s sad, the odd one is lovely. Used to be the other way around.

Those under 50 are the worst!

There’s been a definite shift.

I’m not particularly social but manners cost nothing, and I will smile, hold a door open, reply to someone - seems that’s no longer the norm.

I've definitely noticed people pushing in more at the supermarket. A man pushed/squeezed in between my husband and I when we were walking to the self checkout the other day. Very odd.

I think phones. Back when my daughter was young you might for example take her to a tennis lesson and be bored in the cafe and end up starting a chat with another mum. After a few terms you might end up quite friendly and have a chat if you met them in the supermarket. Not BFF stuff but a pleasant acquaintance at least.

Now if I take my youngest child anywhere people are just glued to their phones and speak much less.

This 100%

I feel so angry when I go somewhere and it's heaving. Really takes the joy out of it. These days if I want to do big attractions I take a days annual leave when it's quieter and avoid weekends and bank holidays.

Driving is aggressive and confrontational. Delivery drivers care nothing for other road users because they’re on a tight schedule, their vans probably don’t belong to them, so they’re not so fussed if they’re scraped. The number of times I’ve had huge Lorrie’s pull out in front of me, ignore roundabout rules or general rules of the road, is alarming.

In a supermarket, it’s possible to park your trolley where it causes least interference, but instead, they’re stuck in front of the shelves, so you can’t get to them.

i just think people are generally much less thoughtful and considerate of others and I do think that covid exacerbated that.

My personal theory is people are very individualistic, every 'knows' their rights but with these come responsibilities.

The pandemic resulted in people not having to socialise and it feels like people have forgotten basic courtesy and manners. This, coupled with the price of things going up everyone feels like the enemy.

Resources are scarce (GP appointments for example) and the news is generally bad (wars, climate change.....) it is a drip, drip, drip of negativity and worry.

People are 'acting out' how they feel ☹️

Makes the UK and society a sadder place to be. 😢

Yes, definitely ruder and very snappy. But I think life has been incredibly tough for a lot of people the last few years, with COVID and cost of living having a detrimental impact for so many people. And a lot of jobs seem more 24/7 and demanding now due to digital innovation. So folks are knackered, stressed and more on edge I think.

Not saying work and money hasn't always brought stress to people's lives, but these events over the last five years or so have been quite transformative.

Customer service is hard

All I hear on here and elsewhere is how shit customer service is which makes you feel more shit when you try your best

Then customers say how shit the service is which translates to "you couldn't give me the thing I wanted which is the moon on a stick"

Then they want a manager who tells them the exact same thing and they're lovely to the manager even though they've just shouted at you for the same thing and threatened to put a complaint in and demanded your name

Pay is low and people are struggling financially

Is it any wonder staff are grumpy?

Ahh, sounds a bit more complex if the patients can use the GP car park.
Might have to come up with a ticket option or some other way of showing your there for the GP only and not just a wander round the shops or whatever. Maybe put their registration in a machine as some pubs do?

That’s so true for me what the OP has said about the difference in parents of her children’s classmates. I have similar age children, and I’ve made friends with several parents from my eldest child’s class, but only one from my youngest - and this is a person who also has a child the same age as my eldest, so different circumstances.

The vast majority of the parents from my youngest’s class are so rude, arrogant and ignorant. There are a particular bunch who are really loud, vulgar and disrespectful - and sadly their children are following in their footsteps.

There is a WhatsApp group for each class - the one for my eldest child’s class is hardly used, and when it is, it’s because someone has genuinely forgotten something important, or because they want to share an important school message with us. The messages are kept to a minimum - one person will give a definitive answer or response and that will be that, and the messages are sent at appropriate times (weekday mornings before the school run, or in the evenings from around 5-8pm. We’ve never agreed on any rules, but are just respectful.

The other WhatsApp group on the other hand…atrocious! People message all hours of the day and night, at weekends and holidays too. People openly slate the school and staff, and there’s a general hostile view from many of authority figures and the education system. The messages are often continuous, and just become like a general chit chat - often between the 5 main ‘culprits.’ There have been disagreements and allegations made. Hardly any of them seem to be able to read or retain any information relating to school, or perish the thought, write down important information relating to the children’s education! Constant messages asking ‘is it P.E today?,’ ‘when does swimming start?,’ and ‘what time’s pick up from after school club?’ Drives me insane!

There have been a few of the decent adults who have formed our own group away from them.