To think that people are much ruder these days?

[Bakingberry]

Everywhere I've been over the last week I've overheard people going out of their way to be rude.

At the weekend I was in a well known department store and there had been a mix up with a customers order. The sales assistant was helping the customer and trying to tell him that the item will still be delivered on the same date. He just kept cutting her off and making argumentative statements. She was young and he was much older. I felt he was trying to belittle her when she was being polite and helping him.

In a coffee shop yesterday and someone was kicking off and shouting at the staff. You could see in there faces they didn't even understand what was wrong and she just shouted over them when they tried to say anything.

In the bank this morning and another case of an old man patronising a younger girl. Couldn't tell what was wrong but if your upset then surely you let the other person apologise and try to help you?

Were people always this rude? Or are they too happy playing the victim and using that as an excuse to let their anger out on someone?

It's interesting; I think it's the opposite. I think these days people generally call bullshit when people try and disguise rudeness as "honesty" or "openness" or "being real", and there's a lot more focus on actually thinking about what you are saying.

I think people have been awful for working in retail or elsewhere similar since the beginning of time. But even that, interestingly, is getting a lot more attention as of now. The "this is their job" attitude is definitely eroding away in the younger generation, and businesses are getting a lot more flack for treating employees poorly.

All those circumstances were rude though. I hate it when people are rude to employees, it's not their fault.

I think there's always been rudeness - it just takes a different form. Watching stuff like Downton Abbey / reading Jane Austen gives the impression that people in the "olden days" were civilised - it wasn't the case. I understand that during the 40s / 50s, people would be staggering rude to random strangers with very little comeback - it wouldn't be tolerated now.

I find shop assistants have become increasingly rude. No wonder people just shop online.

You are not BU. In London supermarket and other shoo/restaurant staff react with surprise when I say thank you. On a recent hospital stay, a Nurse said "Its so nice you say please & thank you. No one else bothers, its I want, I want, I need, get me... etc". My neighbours teen is sweet & kind otherwise but she never says it either. I've started discussing manners with her as IME its a social skill that goes a long way.

Thank you to the people that pointed out I mentioned the age of some of people in my original post.

I had very bad experience with a dominate older man when I was much younger and it made me realise that perhaps that was what bothered me more than the rudeness. It might be seeing the manipulative male behaviour that brought back a memory or a feeling without me knowing it. I was feeling sad this morning when I wrote the original message.

I guess experiences like that never leave you, even when it's years later and you think you are over it. It's got me thinking now.

People are getting ruder, it’s evident on here. Any small issue the advice is tell him/ her to fuck off, he is a cunt, they’re toxic, go nc etc. Why be so inflammatory?

With the advent of social media, it became possible to be rude to people by text or email. That’s spilled over into face to face confrontation now.

Yesterday when I was out for tea I saw a woman drop her cutlery on the floor, look down at it and sit there whilst a waitress came and picked it up. Rude bitch.

My DM works in retail and has people speaking to her like she's a piece of crap quite a lot of the time.

I teach secondary and the everyday rudeness I encounter is shocking: eye rolling and tutting at teachers when politely reminded to do whatever task is set out for them; if requested to please move seats because of low-level, off-task chat I mostly get a disdainful, aggressive, footballer arms in the air ' What did I even do?' retort.
That people are ruder now is clear as day: when I was at school, we never argued with a teacher. I'm in my 40s.

Oh dear I'm a middle class older of a certain age ☹️

I think social media is one of the reasons for increased rudeness. I've been unwell and spending far too much time oh here, as a distraction. Some really rude people and so quick to be offended. Often people just don't have the terminology or are preoccupied and drop a bit of a clanger accidentally.

I'm 50 ad tbh, I'm not sure.

I can remember when Men spoke to Women like crap and Women were just supposed to take it. They would also expect to get served and for Women to move out of their way. Likewise children wasn't treated well.

I watch Classic Coronation Street with my Adult DD's and they are shocked with what we put up with, even in the 80's/early 90's.

I think in general people are more entitled and aggressive, but I haven't encountered much more rudeness.

I can remember a Black Teacher being hounded out of my Senior school and the Teachers being scared of the older lads and Parents. But Teachers could speak to us in a way that it wouldn't be acceptable today.

I can remember badly how older people used to speak to younger people, especially Mum's.

Perhaps some of it is a backlash? I know my generation was a lot more "stand up for your rights" and "you can do what you want" to our children, than previous generations had been.

Rathkelter, that is so sad. Pupils should always respect teachers. We are in a society where a child can get away with anything because "He/She is just a child". No on taught about respect and teachers no longer have power to discipline.

No wonder why some secondary teachers get so much stress from work.

I've just remembered a funny story from my university days. I used to work in a very posh shop at the weekend and there was a regular customer that came in. She was always rude to everyone, throwing her shopping at assistants and shouting at them rather than speaking. The 1st time she came in and acted like that, the manager ran around after her making sure she was ok and was doing everything for her. So each time she came back she just continued to be rude. A new manager joined the company and the customer came in and rudely demanded something from this manager. The manager asked her if she had done something to offend her. The customer looked shocked and said no. After that, each time she came in she couldn't be nicer.

I think she just acted up because she was getting away with it.