Are people getting ruder and unfriendlier or am I just getting old and grumpy?

[Applescruffle]

AIBU to think people see not as nice as they used to be?

I never thought I'd be one of those miserable old "noone has any manners any more" people buy I am seeing it now.

For example, my son is 10 and my daughter is 6. When my son started in reception, everyone was friendly and chatty and I made new friends with the other school mums. I was hoping the same would happen when my daughter started too. She's now in Y1 and I've given up trying to get a "Hello" or even eye contact out of anyone.

I've also noticed that noone seems to care about the people around them any more. My neighbours across the road bring their dog out the front and stand there letting it bark every single morning at 6:10am, including Sundays.
People will rush in front of you in supermarkets or busstops, talk constantly in cinemas, take over restaurants with their loud conversations, play their music in public, park on pavements. Just my daily list of irritations.

What say you? Have you noticed a difference since covid? Do people care less about others?

This 100%

I feel so angry when I go somewhere and it's heaving. Really takes the joy out of it. These days if I want to do big attractions I take a days annual leave when it's quieter and avoid weekends and bank holidays.

I think phones. Back when my daughter was young you might for example take her to a tennis lesson and be bored in the cafe and end up starting a chat with another mum. After a few terms you might end up quite friendly and have a chat if you met them in the supermarket. Not BFF stuff but a pleasant acquaintance at least.

Now if I take my youngest child anywhere people are just glued to their phones and speak much less.

I've definitely noticed people pushing in more at the supermarket. A man pushed/squeezed in between my husband and I when we were walking to the self checkout the other day. Very odd.

Yes, I was at a child's birthday party yesterday and everyone was on their phones and not chatting while the kids played. Which then in turn made me pull out my phone for something to do.
Until I saw a mum I know and made a beeline to sit next to her. We had coffee and chatted, it was nice.
I like chatting. It doesn't mean I think everyone is obliged to chat to me but I find it sad that people do it less.

There’s been a definite shift.

I’m not particularly social but manners cost nothing, and I will smile, hold a door open, reply to someone - seems that’s no longer the norm.

Yes, the rudeness to our Reception team is unbelievable.

The public are vile these days. It’s sad, the odd one is lovely. Used to be the other way around.

Those under 50 are the worst!

So many people in shops are breathtakingly rude these days. I don't know how staff put up with it.

I hate to say it but more often than not it's pensioners 😬. Have just been in Sainsbury's and there was a couple grumbling about there being 'no customer service' while standing right in the way of the self checkout, blocking it for everyone else.

Was in B&M the other day too and this couple in their 70s kicked off at the till lady because they had picked the wrong flavour biscuits and the staff were too slow in replacing them.

It's like seeing the daily mail comment section out and about.

YANBU but people will be along soon to blame Covid/Lockdown for this behaviour (it’s used as an excuse for everything these days).

I have noticed this - customer services are often downright rude and confrontational these days (I remember when they’d actually try to fix your problem rather than deny all culpability and call you a liar).

People in the streets just barge through you - it used to be ‘ard lads that would do this, now it’s pretty common for people to not move a cm out of their trajectory and in some cases lean into you as they pass (do they think their are in an online game and that they can walk through you?).

I half agree in that I think people are slightly more belligerent which predates Covid IMO, but I also think you get back what you put in- I hold doors open for people, chat to the people on the till in my local shop (they see me sometimes twice a day!) and generally go about like that, I also complimented someone on their lovely dog last week, I smile if I see a little baby and in general I get that niceness back. Just be pleasant and well-mannered yourself, and people mostly respond well to that, I think it's a habitual thing so lead the way. I'm not even doing it to be nice, I'm doing it because then people are nice to me and it makes my environment more pleasant, and it works.

For me i cant be bothered with people's crap and dramas so i say it how i see it.
Im very blunt always have been im not gonna sugar coat something to make you feel better id rather be honest.

And you think that’s a virtue?

I think people forgot how to behave around other people during Covid.

No I don't agree, there are plenty of lovely polite people in the world, I think it's just what you are noticing at the mo

I've just returned from a long trip around Thailand and Vietnam. The service is impeccable and genuine, and such a change from the appalling non-service here.

I agree, I find people are always friendly towards me when I go out. It helps I think that I use two walking sticks when walking and so many people go out of their way to hold doors open or help in some way. I also smile at people as I go past and will instigate a conversation if sat on a bench or in a queue. Maybe it’s because I am a bit older as well and people feel sorry for me!

I have noticed it and I just think humans are selfish twats in general.

I hate the way the world is going..most of the people. What do i do? Nothing ...Im polite, jovial, bubbly, chatty, kind anyway. It may not help others be like that but i feel better that im not adding misery. Had a woman get off bus other week, she said to me 'you are a very kind lady' i was all oh..erm thanks...she said dont think people dont notice...that was nice. All i can think that i did was give up my seat twice (disabled and elderly) and chat to people. I dont do it for recognition, i do it because i like the chat and feeling good about myself and my ethics

Yes. It was an issue before Covid. Ime, I find it is definitely area dependent.

I do think people are just too tied up with their own lives these days.

Not sure I'd be stating that things had changed so rapidly in 4 years tho, you've probably just got a miserable cohort with your DD's year.

I work in customer service, and I have this discussion with my colleagues a lot. I'm in my fifties, and I've worked in customer service my whole working life. People are without doubt, ruder and more aggressive than I've ever known. I don't know why. I'm an absolute delight to deal with on the phone, I always try my very best to resolve issues, and I go above and beyond as often as I can to help people. It makes no difference whatsoever. I'd say at least 60% of the people I speak to talk to me like absolute shit. It's so, so depressing.

I agree. My youngest ds wet himself while waiting for a ride at a theme park the other week. So I walked him back to the car park because he doesn’t normally wet himself anymore (so I didn’t take his bag with clothes in). He is only three and while walking back I can’t tell you how many strangers said “ew disgusting” as we walked by through the theme park on our way out.

I was surprised at the lack of compassion for such a small human.

This. In fact, I think people are in general are friendlier and politer.

So much has changed since Covid, sometimes it seems there's another difficulty at regular intervals just adding quietly to the pile of things that have gone before, it all starts to get a bit much. Covid divided people, other people became a danger and some just haven't got over that and feel a certain hostility to others, they're happier in their own little world pretending other people don't exist.

or good morning/be, thanks etc
The driving, if you sound your horn, just a light tap to let the vermin know that they just cut you up, they start ranting and raving, brake checks, getting out of the car etc. The good thing is these types in cars at times do pick on the wrong person/people and wlak back to their car with their tail between their legs😂