..To think we British people are becoming insufferably smug and aggressive?

[Bellerophon]

It's Sunday morning and I'm not here to start a fight. But after a fair few years on this earth, I was asking my partner this morning AIBU for thinking we are becoming some of the smuggest, aggressive, entitled people in our history?

The last month has felt like a microcosm of this world I describe. My life is ok - I have some money, I have a great other half, I am neither rich nor poor. I live near a school, it's a house with a driveway and we like the house because it's close to local shops and the station. I don't want to move. Yet every other day I have a large car, 4x4 or otherwise it doesn't matter, blocking my driveway for at least half an hour. For what it's worth, because I am someone who works unusual hours, I actually need to get my car off the driveway. Why is it that every mother I politely speak to about this ("I'm afraid I need to use my driveway regularly, could you find another space please) either 1) glares at me 2) tells me to f_ck off 3) tells me "not to speak to her family that way" (um...I wasn't addressing her child!) the list goes on.

These mothers all tend to be the same. Glaring, aggressive, believing only in their own world. It's the usual regular suspects. Yes, I can call the council and have done. Yes, I could move house but I don't want to. It's the aggressiveness of the British woman that amazes me, with the default to tell me "don't talk to me - just solve the problem I and others have caused you". Whatever happened to starting with yourself?

The month got even better. I'm at a Sainsbury's car park, it's rammed with cars, not sure how many spaces left, in any case I find one and am looking to reverse...when lo! a woman appears from behind a parked car and stands directly in the path of my car. When I politely inquire out of the window "excuse me is everything ok" she belligerently replies "can't you see this space is taken?" and then waves forward a car about six car lengths back from behind me. What on earth?! I keep moving forward, she tells me to f_ck off (familiar words to me). I'm told I sound smug for challenging her, but to be honest this is lunacy to me. What makes her so entitled?

And then it gets ridiculous. Dinner with my friend last night. She's a teacher, 5'8", pretty, slim, lives on her own and doesn't have a whole bunch of money. She happens to be a good sportswoman though, yet tells me she is being bullied by two members of her team. These are so-called 'society women', who relentlessly criticised her this summer for "always wearing t-shirts" (!) that they felt were distracting their husbands. These women happen to be a little larger than her, richly festooned with watches etc, but are clearly taking early shots in what they perceive to be a war against her natural youth and figure. They rub it in that she has no money, as if she is there at the grace of her sponsors. They endlessly talk about how their house "has made £50,000 in the last six months" (despite not having realised its value by selling up). So what about her clothing Well, I have seen her t-shirts. They are crew neck, they fit her, she is a happy and young sportswoman who enjoys her life. What is wrong with British women?

Why are people at my friend's work so quick to criticise the Eastern European business support assistant who sits at work, never saying boo to a goose, always friendly, but doesn't fit the size 14-18 Lindt chocolate scoffing, Greek island-hopping, mortgage-comparison set? I hardly think any of this warrant her being called a 'prostitute'.

We are rapidly becoming a nation of average shaped harpies, crowing because we managed to get the bank to give us some credit; quick to boot anyone out of the way who annoys us or risks showing us up for what we are.

AIBU?

Spot on. Yeah people are more aggressive and self entitled than they’ve ever been. Maybe to do with living on an island and being slightly apart from the rest of the world but may also be to do with greedy, ignorant people.

@Lizzyweb12

Why have you bumped a (annoying) four year old thread?

I'm English but moved to Sweden with DH after him living with me in dear old blighty for 10 years. We are considering moving back to London ( finances permitting) as we and him especially said, people are more friendly, open and helpful in the UK than up here. And he thinks driving in better the UK. Open roads aside, he said someone will always let you out, give a wave of thanks etc.

There's good and bad everywhere but in general I would say it ain't all that bad. The school parking thing must be annoying but you do seem a little angry Annie.

You say British people but what you mean is that you despise British WOMEN.

I told you it was Liz Jones

@Lizzyweb12 - why why did you do this op

I do see where OP is coming frommI have quietly gon about my life nod have witnesses similar things too, I don't get quite as wound up about it though, but I do see the point she is trying to make.
It is good to see that other posters have never experienced this, but what annoys me most is people condoning very rude behaviour and or bowing down to it, justifying it or worse telling the person on the receiving end of it to stop being so sensitive, move if their parking over your drive, just ignore it etc, er no, these are rude entitled people with no consideration for others, there is no excuse at all, they are being unreasonable rude and entitled.
There have been the odd occasion where I have told them, when they have tried to turn it round on pe I have defended myself and stood my ground, I have even had the odd apology.

Zombie thread, but I agree to a point. People are getting more entitled, more rude, there is more hate towards those who are different and when someone does something that causes a problem, you are more likely to be met with abuse than apology.

That’s disgusting you have people using your drive way. It’s just not on.

Yep, I totally agree with you OP. This aggressive, rude, self -entitled, CHAV attitude is off-putting. And that element seems to be becoming more the majority in this country.

OP You are 100% correct YANBU.

I agree, I find mothers with children often very aggressive, especially with their driving, which is often awful. One of the many reasons we moved last year our quiet Lane became a car park for 4x4s with incompetant and rude parent drivers because the small local school expanded. Judgey who cares

Might be four years old but I’ll bet the same clowns with 4x4’s are still blocking that driveway. That actually happens to my neighbour in another part of the country. That’s my point. And excuse me for replying to an old thread but there’s not much you can do about it is there? So go suck your lemons, it’ll keep you more sour 😉

Replying to years old threads is generally the sign of an idiot of someone who wants to push a (usually questionable) agenda.

size 14-18 Lindt chocolate scoffing

I feel personally attacked!!

Creambun2

Replying to years old threads is generally the sign of an idiot of someone who wants to push a (usually questionable) agenda.

Clearly the number of recent replies proves the thread is still relevant and Creambun2 you are the idiot here.

Aww creambun, youre right I do want to ‘push’ an agenda, and the ‘agenda’ is - why can’t grown women park a 4x4 properly? It is a bit of a joke isn’t it? But very unfortunate for the op.