Getting irritated by people as getting older. Anyone else?

[straighttalker99]

I think this is possibly is a 'me' thing, but the older I get, the more completely and utterly irritated I find myself getting with people. (I'm 40 for context). Does anyone feel this way?

Example : I went away with a work friend last minute this week for a work event (only met her the once and had a lovely time at a recreational event we planned together) and we got on really well. We message each other a fair amount in between work too so felt I knew her well etc (but in hindsight probably don't). Anyways, spent the past few days away with her in a shared apartment and it's been really tough. She was so loud, made random noises such as burping, and weird hiccup sounds in public which I would be mortified with, counted every single penny she used and asked for every penny of costs we shared. It felt very transactional. She interrupted me multiple times mid-flow conversation and basically took over extra spaces in the apartment and made them hers. She was up late most nights and I had difficulty sleeping because she was banging about.

I am also going through a really difficult personal problem at the moment so may be a bit oversensitive and have spent most of the last few days in tears as I push through work. In the end I just left and got the train now. I'm back in the peace of my own home and my God, it is bliss!!!

Does anyone feel that you may just be done with people? I didn't realise having my own space and being on my own could feel so amazing.

Nope, you're not unusual and it gets worse! I've got 20 years on you and I can barely keep my opinions to myself, lately. My daughter recently called me a "rude old bat"!
I went on a 10 day holiday with a woman I've known (not closely, but fairly well) for a dozen years. She drove me utterly batty with her control freakery. Now, the thought of cosy lunch dates with her leave me cold as ice.
I don't think you're unusual by a long chalk.

I've reached this stage far too early in my life! I love.. NEED my own space to retreat back to.

Totally get you. I think it’d because we see through the ahit and spot the motives and BS straight off. Older and wiser etc. also because time is more precious the older you get so why waste it on idiots or those not on your wave length. I think im fairly tolerant still but I just grey rock people and situations these days. Or I just find things quietly amusing and amuse myself laughing internally at others. I avoid wherever possible those who are difficult to be around for whatever reason :)

I am 70 and I live in Chicago. I am so annoyed with all the people and cars! HaHa! I wanted to take a trip on my own this month: NY City?, Charleston?, San Francisco? Nope. I am following sections of the Oregon Trail in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. At most historic sites I have visited in the past week, I am the only one there! I love it. I climbed a very steep hill today, Windlass Hill, in Nebraska ,where I could see for miles around and it was just me! Bliss! I cannot wait to plan my next solo trip where I hope not to run into another human being!

My friend brought a waiter with smelly feet back to our apartment on the first night and I had to sleep on the balcony.

Our nerves fray and reduce as we age so that may be why people drive us mad as we get older. Jean-Paul Sartre said 'hell is other people' and I totally agree with him.

This is is a great day, I think I've found my people! 😆 Hi 👋
What a great thread.

@straighttalker99 I worked in a people environment all my adult life, loved it. I was empathetic, very liberal in my approach etc. Retired 10 years ago. I find myself detesting most people daily. I'm starting to love my new view of life lol. Embrace and enjoy being a grumpy old woman. Or if you are Scottish, a crabbit auld witch 🧙‍♀️.

Same here. I've realised that a couple of old friends only bothered with me when I could do something for them, so I've reduced contact. And they haven't contacted me.

I have friends i talk to when I walk my dog, one of them agrees that she can't be bothered to socialise any more, we'd both rather be at home with our dogs, than spending money on stuff we don't want to do with people we don't care about.

I do worry I'm becoming isolated but the more I see of other people I'm less inclined to "join in" 🤨

a crabbit auld witch 🧙‍♀️.

I love that! I'm sure we will shortly have someone leap in to tell you how deeply ageist and misogynistic and all sorts of other "ists" that phrase is, but I'm going to tell you I love it!

43 and most humans are knob heads. But then I've felt this since I was about 13 so maybe it is a me thing 😂

My son even bought me a birthday card that says something like " I thought I was in a bad mood but it's been three years so I guess this is just who I am now"

I can be so nice and tolerant and people wouldn't know I felt like this apart from close family, but the second I walk away I seethe and rant to myself 😂😂

Yes

I travel on public transport and I find nearly everyone else annoying (mainly listening or watching things without headphones, listening with headphones but max volume so can still easily hear, having convos on speaker phone , tapping a keyboard too loudly, eating noisy or stinky food, whacking me with a rucksack, manspreading, BO etc etc,.....the possibilities and assault to the senses are endless!)

Even DH is annoying if we travel on the same train because he asks me all the answers for the crossword which I dont actually want to do 🤣🤣

Was just about to say lots of people on trains drive me mad. I get on at the first stop and then more and more annoyingly loud people get on. No self awareness whatsoever. This is not in rush hour.
Also, walking around my town gets me angry due to people walking towards me 2 or 3 abreast and not moving to let me past. I just don’t get it! Or they stand around on the pavement, again blocking the way.
I could think of a lot more!

YANBU. Absolutely.

I have a very long list of annoyances atm:

• Adult siblings who have never grown up. Embarrassments.
• People chatting absolute rubbish on the school run. Zero responsibility for their own flakiness/unreliability.
• Weak, ineffective parents in utter denial about their child’s appalling behaviour.
• Parents palming everything off onto schools.
• Neighbour’s disgusting cats pooing in our garden.
• People bringing uninvited siblings to birthday parties. Opting out from now on, I am done!!!
• People babying their dogs and inflicting them on everyone everywhere, utter embarrassments.
• People always without fail directing any perceived criticism of your child/parenting at mum not dad, even when both are right there.
• Personal pronouns. I refuse to engage with that farcical circus!
• The cost of everything and anything.
• People failing to RSVP/be on time/cancelling. Absolutely sick of it all.

Personal pronouns: as soon as I hear ‘they’ I imagine two or more people. Using’they’ for one person jars and doesn’t make sense. However, I have only come across this in the media, never IRL .