To think people are more selfish than ever before?

[LosAmigos]

I went to the theatre this evening. The show was wonderful, but people made me mad. There was a woman with two teenage girls behind me and the woman and one of the girls were frequently talking.

Woman sat next to me, constantly rustling a bag of sweets throughout. She also couldn't seem to sit still in her seat. After she had finished the Haribo, she pulled a bag of something crunchy out.

Also, while I am having a rant, there's not a public transport journey I take where someone isn't talking with their phone on speakerphone or they're playing music/media out loud without headphones.

This is so true. Obsession with what the person is feeling and those feelings must be validated as they are absolutely right and true and other people's actions must consider and act in accordance with those feelings

Being 'myself' or being 'true to myself' basically just equates acting selfishly or rudely and justifiying as self care as you say

I suspect that the reason people don't go out as much as they did pre covid is because they don't want to be annoyed by rude mannered members of the public. I paid for 1st class train last time I travelled by train (cheap upgrade offer I must admit) the two other people in the carriage were working - nowadays that entails yelling into your phone constantly and having the other person on speakerphone. Annoying. Plus they could probably charge their 1st class ticket.

Someone on Radio 4 was talking about the 1950s - I think it was 1951 the law against swearing in public was dropped. Yes really!!

Yes agree op. People are very selfish indeed.

Often when I'm in public I do wonder if people just have different standards to me in terms of what is acceptable. For example the talking in the theatre. So yes it kind of is selfishness but it's because they think this behaviour is acceptable I think. Rather than active selfishness.... Or maybe I'm being to positive in my faith in others and they actually just don't give a shit. But I totally identify with this. I think I've got poss adhd and definitely some sensory issues. The way people behave in public can be very challenging for me.

Rant on the way ... IMO there is no doubt that people are in general ruder, more bolshy, more idle and less considerate. They think they're 'entitled' to behave as they like. It's everywhere, from disabled parking (I have a blue badge and while trying to find a space I marvel at the fecking cheek of those parking in the blue badge and parent/child spaces - with no disability, no blue badge or children in sight) to theatre/cinema/any public space. Haven't been to the cinema in years because it seemed the eating and talking on the phone became more important than the film for many. Can't go to many public areas (am on crutches) as dogs being let loose to run and jump up at people is now the norm - their dogs are 'entitled' to run loose, also 'entitled' to bark at anything and drive all the neighbours mad. Not everyone of course, but seems to be a large percentage of the population who are like this. Sometimes I'm glad I'm old and lived most of my life before social media/mobiles etc were a thing.

I wish someone would invent something that disables all mobiles in theatres and cinemas.

Did you ask the theatre people to be quiet? Usually they will if asked.

I don’t think people are generally more selfish but the talking aloud on phones thing is really annoying

People used to though, that's my point.

I'm in my mid-fifties and there was a time when it was common to see people politely asking others to quieten down a bit etc.

But sadly that's far more likely to get you into a fight or an argument these days, especially on public transport.

YANBU to find such behaviour thoroughly selfish and annoying.

YABU to think that people are more selfish than ever before. People have always been selfish.

I’m not, and I couldn’t care less what your opinion is.

Yes people eat in the street. That used to be regarded as common. If you were someone you sat down to eat,

There was a pretty good reason for this, which was to save indigestion and also to maintain a healthy weight. Now we have a lot of fat people who cannot not eat and need snacks for two hours? The definition of a first world problem.

People have always been selfish. It’s really nothing new. When I was 15 half my mates were behaving like dickheads in the cinema. That was 25 years ago. Same old.

Also I eat in the theatre and the cinema. It’s half of the enjoyment for me, the snacking. I don’t rustle selfishly though, or talk.

I was wondering the other day why there are so many people having FaceTime conversations whilst walking on the street - no headphones, both parties shouting at each other in public. When did this become a thing?

I hate noisy people in public transport and noisy people on mobiles who always seem to sit next to me. I long to tell them to Stfu

I would always be quiet in a cinema or theatre, it's so expensive. Why spoil it for others

I would eat in theatre but in interval or quietly with a sweet as it's quite a nice treat. I don't rustle

It's all about what used to be etiquette. No you don't have to adhere to it, but it's much nicer and more considerate to eat before the theatre. You are presumably going to enjoy the acting.

For some strange reason I have never noticed it in most theatres. I do notice it in corporate venues like 02.

There is something odd about people who cannot restrain themselves for a few hours and feel the need to eat in a dark room!

I don’t think people are ruder I just think the rude people are more noticeable these days. And I don’t think it’s a generational thing either, because I’ve seen a lot of older people being blisteringly rude with seemingly no shame. People have always been rude, but they didn’t always have a phone that could blare out music or FaceTime.

People didn't used to flash their phones all over the cinema. Or sing along when at a musical. Or talk all through a movie. Or stuff their faces as they walk.

It is ridiculous to say people were always like this. They weren't.

If someone was talking during the start of a movie or during a play, someone nearby would say, Shh... And they'd stop immediately. Now they might pause, glare, and keep talking.

I'm not sure it's that people are more selfish, I think it's that what is socially acceptable has shifted in some sectors of society. There seems to be this air of 'I am no longer bound by the rules of society' attitude, therefore 'I will rebel and show how free I am'.

Which is selfish!

I do think that theatres should ask people not to eat during a performance. There is nothing more annoying than having someone munching and crunching through crisps and sweets behind you while you're trying to watch. Also can't understand why people can't make it through an hour without needing to eat. It actually puts me off going these days.

@ItsGettingCold Remember this? This sketch show ran this joke for 3 years between 2000 and 2003.

No they didn’t. At no point in history was it ever normal or appropriate to go into a venue that sells food and drinks to customers and ‘pull up’ the customers on eating the food! It would always have been considered extremely odd behaviour.