To ask you to restore my faith in humanity please?

[TheClawww]

I've just had to fly for work - airports are awful at the best of times but today was just foul

People had no respect for others personal space, most people seemed incapable of following basic instructions - particularly through security - but the thing that was so galling was how the airport and airline staff were being treated - one woman screamed at the flight attendant because she had to sit next to someone else, rather than an empty seat. Another woman kicked off [pun intended] because SHE chose the wrong seat and was in the front of the plane rather than the back, and she needed to be first out of the plane because her ankle hurt.

I got a message from my OH an hour or so ago, upset because some random lady had a go at him for wearing headphones whilst he was walking our dog because it is "rude".

I can't seem to go outside without seeing multiple cases of people just being foul to each other.

My mental health is a bit precarious, and I'm starting to get really overwhelmed with the fact that the world just seems to be an awful place, and people are mostly horrible - though logically I know this isn't true.

So please, share some nice stories or something - or am I actually not being unreasonable and people are just horrid.

I stood in a massive queue in a coffee shop today. I was sandwiched between two groups of late teens. They were hungover and I thought oh great this is going to be fun. They were lovely. Chatting really nicely between each other, respecting social distancing (with other people, still all over each other!) and generally really present young people. Made me feel massively old but definitely made me feel more positive about the world.

Be the change you want to see in the world, OP

Do something really kind for someone and come and tell us the story

I'm with you, OP.
At the beginning of lockdown, I went to Aldi and (amongst other essential things) put two loaves of bread in my basket.
I got to the checkout, and the assistant said to me "I'm really sorry, but I can only let you buy one loaf" to which I replied " that's ok, no worries". The assistant then thanked me for not shouting at her! She said the abuse she got from some people...
I nearly cried for her, and that people could be so horrible.

My neighbours offered to get my shopping in at the start of lockdown and are still doing it. They were already putting my bins out for me.

The pharmacist offered to drop some meds at my house ("because I'm passing anyway").

Other neighbour went out and bought me a plant I'd been asking her advice on. Just because she could.

I was in the pits of despair last year because a series of thoughtless bastards tradesmen who were supposed to be making adaptations wrecked my house and each buggered off, making my life even harder than it need be and leaving me despairing that I would ever be able to get someone competent to fix things. I didn't have a working bath or fully working shower for more than six months, and it's not like I can bathe easily at the best of times.

But lovely, lovely people have absolutely restored my faith in human nature this year.

@Ethelfleda
Be the change you want to be
I love that. I'm going to adopt that attitude.

I read a nice story today.

In Galicia, Spain, a man was shoplifting jars of baby food because he lost his job (Covid) in March and was desperate. The supermarket called the police, who turned up and paid his bill and let him go.

Stealing is wrong of course but this warmed my heart.

I genuinely believe that the harshness and gloves off bravado approach on social media is spilling over into real life. I make a point of being smiley and helpful wherever I possibly can be. It makes me feel nice so who cares what others think - I mean you, lady at the shop who gave me nothing but a dirty look with I waved her in ahead of me as we reached the door at the same time.

@QuentinInQuarantino - that baby food story has made me cry

I was in Greater London recently, not a place known for its friendliness (my mother was mugged three times in the area). Late to meet a friend so striding along the road, baby in carrier. Twisted my ankle and landed on my knees.

Woman came running up dragging her young son behind her. Offered me a hand up then made me cross the road to a low wall where I could sit. She tried to persuade me to go to her home where she had plasters etc but I said I was ok, and needed to get to Costa. So they both walked down the road, her young son telling me everything about everything on the way! As we parted she said she'd meet me at Costa and pop into the chemist for me. She found me and handed me dressings and a wound wash, and wouldn't take any money for them.

Was the best part of my trip!

@TheMandalorian Mon 31-Aug-20 20:04:48
The trick is to take a moment to think of all the other people there who didn't kick off and just got on with their day in a pleasant but unassuming way. We always stick on the bad things as a way to try to understand why that situation occurred iyswim.*

Absolutely this.

When I went shopping the other day a woman was arsey in the Car Park - I got in the shop and someone reached something off a high shelf for me. I watched (briefly) a baby in a trolley, giggling and chatting gibberish to her mum who was having an excited conversation with her and the checkout assistant noticed that some humus with today's sell buy and offered to get someone to exchange or mark it down to half price for me.
When I got home I started feeling off about the first woman but then decided to push that out of my mind and smile about the nice things instead.