What is WRONG with people? It's 2022!

[EdaYildiz]

Over the past couple of weeks, ALOT of things when out and about has been getting on my last nerves, it's almost like people just think they walk the earth alone and are not considerate for anybody around them!

EVERYTIME I go to Tesco I can guarantee that at least one person will come and stand right in front of me when I am looking at something - literally plonk themselves right in front of me like I'm not there! I always make a point to stand so I'm not blocking the way for others to walk behind me but also that I've left enough space for others to grab and go from the shelf.

I was in Primark yesterday looking at some basic jumpers on the folded table and there was an ENTIRE table to walk around but no no, I'll let you guess where she came a stood.

I finished work yesterday and was walking down Oxford St with a friend and then BAM the women in front of me just stopped so obviously I went into the back of her and I hurt my nose because of the impact so I said to her "Yes please, just stop walking in the middle of the street".

Shopping Centers is another ache up my backside with people just stopping when they're walking.

I was in a different Primark recently and the women behind me was so close for the 20 minutes we were queuing that I was practically grinding her! Then when I was waiting for my turn to be called to a till, she overtook me and went to the till so I chased her and said excuse me a few times which she ignored!

Another time in Primark, a teenager walked up to the disabled tills bypassing the huge queue, paid and walked off laughing to her friend and saying "idiots looks at them all queuing" so it was clear she was faking it because then she was running around Primark playing tag with her group of friends and then booting it up the escalators on the wrong way racing her friends.

My lord, what is wrong with people? Does anybody find this happens to them too or does this just happen to me?

Well done for saying something btw

Personally, I had to shove someone out the way on an escalator the other day. It was a crowded escalator and they decided they were just going to stop as soon as they stepped off. There actually wasn't any time to say excuse me please and for them to register my request request move and actually move, there would have been a pile up at the top of the escalator. I had to shove my way past the person.

I don’t agree you should go forward without being called or getting a very clear signal the assistant is ready. Just because they’ve finished serving the person before doesn’t mean they’re ready. If you go too soon, you risk another assistant becoming ready, the next person goes forward to them and you’ve lost your place.

Also it’s rude to assume you know when the assistant is ready.

Well I was in Primark a couple of days ago. I was stood in front of a mirror in a tight space trying on this very nice hooded cardigan. I couldn’t decide which size, M or L. Anyway I had the medium on and a woman squeezes herself into the tight space I’m in, picks up the L cardigan, nudges me out the way and tries it on! Like I wasn’t even there!

I agree

This country likes a seethe

Do you buy everything bespoke? Not being argumentative but curious as to whether you take this stance to its logical conclusion. Although I also dislike Primark.

Regardless of the pandemic, younger people do not know how to interact with each other and read body language. They believe that they can't fail and don't need to follow the rules. it's how we've taught them at school. They don't know how to behave in public and cannot cope with work. Bear in mind that older people may stand too close because they didn't grow up in England and learn our behaviour. Learn to say something to people if they do something you don't like, you don't need to be rude. I've turned round before now and said that as I don't know them would they stop standing so close. I have an advantage with a stick, I've rearranged my shopping and put my stick under my arm..... turn round suddenly as if you've heard someone call you and bang them with your shopping then apologise.

@Anamechangeisasgoodasarest
Ha...glad you said it as I thought I'd give it a miss in case I got 🔥

Oooo yes! I tend to look down and just stop walking. Mostly folks take notice then, do not seem to be challenged and will apologise. Fortunately, I have never had anyone trip over my dog, jostle my shopping or "shoulder" me aside. It seems some neutral/friendly assertiveness is needed at times, otherwise you do always end up in the road. Then a car swerving so's not to kill you or your dog (that you are now flying like a kite on its lead into the traffic) will kill someone else and it'll all be your fault

I appreciate cyclists dinging their bells as they approach on a towpath. It makes me jump if I haven't heard them before they pass, and it makes sense to avoid a collision. Bell dinging isn't doing any harm, and could prevent someone getting hurt or drenched.

The pp isn't right in this case as this man tripped over while attempting to get past. It is clear he should have waited as there wasn't room for him to easily exit the lift. Whether the wheelchair should have moved first depends on the placement of people in the lift.

I too appreciate bell dinging from a distance which gives me a chance to look round, see what's coming and stay to one side.
Otherwise if a silent cyclist gets close I'm more likely to jump in surprise.
Also the path where I walk tends to have puddles etc that I may well swerve to avoid if I don't know a cyclist is there.

A bell is a helpful 'I'm here' signal, not a rude 'get out of may way'.

Yep, me too. Ngl, I loved the space 😂 but it seems I was in the minority!!

Could you be a ghost?

Everyone round my way is frothing at the mouth shopping and being out its certainly no cost of living crisis here its like the Christmas crush. It’s because everyone was locked down for a couple of years and the media is full of gloom and doom . There is a lot of retail therapy going on.
People are probably also thinking its only going to go up in price not down so there is a real grabby vibe.
I used to find Charity shopping relaxing now its a heaving bun fight of zombie shoppers. Yesterday a guy parked his bike in front of the women’s jumpers inside the shop on a heaving Saturday and the staff had let him do this so he could look in the men’s section. When I touched his bike he became very concerned making excuses there is no reasonable excuse for blocking access for female shoppers so he could shop 🙈without having his bike locked outside where it belongs?
I remember on first moving to London a guy pushed past me whilst I was struggling with my luggage with his gym rucksac on and paused briefly to look down my top. That summed up city gents . It’s become worse with I culture esp the airpods although at least no one can hear when your boyfriend mentions something you rather he hadn’t no one can hear thankfully.
People cycling on busy pavements whilst looking on phonescreens and when I point out the cycle lane is just there answer They nonchantly reply I can see that . The audacity and selfishness is breathtaking.
A Dad cycling on a narrow pavement with people, shop deliveries arriving and a tight corner at speed. I actually told him off. Other people were looking on but he never dismounted and of course that’s the example to his child he is setting. It’s strange how consideration for others holds little value. Maybe it’s a culture that is filtering down from the top to be just out for yourself?

the number of people with bags on seats who then stare at me blankly when I ask them to move so I can sit down

For sure! Now I'm commuting to work on the train I see this every day. So many blocking the seat next to them with a little bag, or sitting on the aisle seat with the window seat empty next to them. Sometimes every pair of seats is blocked by one person in this way, while a dozen people are standing. Incredibly selfish.

Half of these posts listing things that I first remember noticing when I was 11, but citing modern culture of selfishness and individuality as the cause, with a fair amount of The Internet thrown in.

When paper was first introduced in school they complained it would make children lazy and selfish to not learn to write on a slate…

My partner notices all of this because he gets bumped into or his feet run over by prams. I am always telling him to chill out and not let it disrupt but when that jogger on Putney Bridge pushed a woman into the bus lane where she nearly got crushed by a bus Because he kept going on about joggers who shout get out the way when your peacefully walking the pavement or just barge through you since when did the pavement become a running track. When I was a runner I ran around people its that or slow down surely . Think of the elderly with slower reflexes, hearing loss and brittle bones why should they be ran into.

I get the occasional 'invisible' day OP. Days when I get pushed or knocked into, or backed into a corner like the oncoming people can't actually see me which is odd, as tbh, I'm fairly wide. I think with me, it's because on days like this I'm feeling lower/sadder, and this translates, body language wise, into more crumpled, aged and easily dismissed. . . Days when I feel confident, brighter and more assertive I definitely don't get the same treatment.

I had a issue yesterday where I was out shopping (which I don't do often!) and I use a walking stick.
This middle aged woman (not even a teen) was so close to me she kicked my stick and I fell over!
No apology just "oh you shouldn't be out if you can't walk."

Like wtf. It's not 2022 that's the issue, it's people who just lack manners and any empathy that's the issue.

You sound really angry, quite aggressive at times and silently seething at other times.

Perhaps you are the one who forgot how rude others could be during lockdown. I mean you did walk in to someone too.

People have always been like this. It's annoying I suppose. But you will be happier if you chill a bit and let it wash over you.

They aren't going to change because you are a jerk to them. No one is persuaded by a jerk.

I do think the country is getting angrier and more hostile though....I guess you might be partially to thank for that.

Do you think you would be happier if you didn't let it bother you?

Caktwenty

I am so sorry when your feeling vulnerable the last thing you need is people lacking consideration around you on a daily basis.
See this awareness for others is important because we don’t know what they are going through.
i had someone knock into me so hard it was agony a large lady in the biscuit aisle she apologised but it was so painful I have a large bruise two weeks on. She apologised without looking at me and I am beginning to wonder if she bashed into me on purpose because she hid her face if I am sorry I say this facing someone to at least show genuine concern and turn back

Totally agree with you OP. we find this when shopping anywhere. It's like they've forgotten what social norms were before lockdown.
I particularly hate the 'emergency stop' that you have to navigate round, and my husband hates when someone steps Infront of him when he's looking for something on shelves. He now says 'eh i didn't realise I was bloody invisible' or 'people are so rude'.
The thought of going to a shopping centre is just 'no thanks', not because if COVID, just because of people!

Sorry, but I don't accept that sitting in an aisle seat is blocking a seat.

I always sit in an aisle seat, as I'm 5ft 11 and 14 stone, so I don't fit into small spaces easily. I don't put my bag on the other seat, and I stand up promptly to let people sit by the window, if asked. People do give me shitty looks as we stand there looking at each other waiting for one of us to sit by the window, as, apparently, "Is that seat free?" means "I want you to sit in it, so that I can have your aisle seat". No. I got there first. I'm keeping my seat. You can have the window or sit elsewhere. (I do, of course, make exceptions for anyone with mobility issues/small children, but I'm usually too far back into the bus/train for them anyway.) You don't ask people who have bagged a table seat to move because you fancy sitting there, so why do people think it's ok to expect aisle-sitters to move?