to be annoyed that I cannot stop myself....

[danceswithaSPRINGinherstep]

waving 'thanks' to people who are waiting (at the red light)at the other end of temporary traffic lights - muppet.

Yes, you are a muppet , sounds terribly British though doesn't it.
DH and I argue about flashing lights at people - I say flashing in the dark means 'you go first' like it does in the daytime, that kind people in the dark just shouldn't expect any sign of gratitude. He says you wave thanks in the daytime and flash at night.

It is sooooooooo british isn't it, like saying 'oh sorry' when someone bumps into you Gawd damn us and our over-developed sense of politeness

Oh I flash lights or wave depending on how I feel, didn't realise there could be rules!

Oh thats so funny, I do that too. the people at the lights must think we are mad.

On the flashing lights issue, I flash in the dark to say thank you but only do it when I am nearly level with them so it cannot be miscontrued as you go first.

Actually I think it would be more British if you stuck two fingers up at them

Good manners are nothing to be ashamed of, but yes, you are a muppet for thanking people who are only stopeed because their light is red

Well I think that you are probably a muppet, but better a muppet than a rude person (best to err on the side of caution)

But then I thank people who stop at zebra and pedestrian crossings, despite it being the law and that..

Muppetry!

I ALWAYS say thanks to people that stop at zebra cossings for me, always and am teaching my DD's to do the same.

nah -- dont be annoyed

tis nice to be nice

I also cant stop myself saying "Thank you" to the automated alarm calls in hotel rooms ...

I went beetroot red once when I realised I had just thanked the cash machine when I took my money out of it.

Now thats muppetry

lol - I always thank people at zebra crossings, TC as does ds. Not managed a cash machine yet...

I always thank people at zebra crossings too, just to encourage them. Lived too long in inner London where you are bloody lucky if anyone stops at all!

Grumpy!

Were you in a queue at the time?

Oh yes.

Even better then

many of us are sycophantic over-thankers!

Oh Lord, I do that too (the thanking at the temporary traffic lights) - it's kind of like a nervous twitch, isn't it?

Some guy - in a white van no less - stopped to let me through at one of those traffic calming sections where the road goes into one lane. He had priority, according to the sign! Very polite

Well a white van let me turn right out of a junction last wednesday ... in rush hour stationary traffic (now there's an oxymoron) ... whereupon a biker overtook the traffic jam and crashed into me ... wobbled on and fell off

police were called cos was an RTA and told me he was lucky not to be prosecuted and not to be hurt -- but because I was turning safely he only sprained his wrist and they hoped it would be a lesson to obey the highway code

I got a letter Saturday from some ambulance-chasing solicitors ... apparently he is suing me for my negligence which caused him a serious injury

I wont be thanking him for that ...

Why would it make you a muppet? Nothing wrong with spreading a bit of cheerfulness and gratitude, even if it’s not technically necessary.