People-Courtesy, Politeness, Civility, Attitude

[Rifraf]

After a challenging week of work I wanted to rant a tiny bit I guess, but also wanted to get people's opinions in other states and countries about the people you interact with and how they conduct themselves.

I've been in the same industry for almost 25 years now. Started one week after graduating high school and this is my 3rd company to work for in that time including 17 years with my first. One was my choice to quit and the other was a lay off when the economy crashed.

I do all the purchasing for my company, but assist on the phones for customer service at times and also assist walk-in customers who come in for various reasons. Every day I think more and more that civilization is just going down the toilet. People can be so rude and combative and go off on you when they don't get their way. "What do you mean you don't stock the part?" "What do you mean you can't get here tomorrow?" "I spent $17,353.23 on my product I should get better customer service!" Yes, they do like to try to impress you with their purchase down to the penny thinking they'll get more, better, faster. "I know so and so, maybe I'll give him a call!" Go ahead, the owner puts his pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else.

Try calling your doctor and seeing if you can get in tomorrow. Ain't gonna happen. Try getting your car in the shop for repair same day and usually next day. Not gonna happen. "Well, if I don't get what I want them I'll tell everyone not to buy your product!" I really want to tell them to go ahead, but you can imagine the damage that can be done by only one unsatisfied customer. Then the manger gets involved and ends up giving them the farm to keep them satisfied and in turn making you look like the bad guy.

I honestly could not live with myself if I treated everyone like crap just to get what I wanted. I'm at the other end of the spectrum in that I'm too laid back and don't usuallyfight too often for what I should, but then I sleep just fine at nite and my stress level is fairly low because who wants to deal with all that drama? I'm starting to think I should have become a mortician so I wouldn't have to deal with people. And it's not just young people, who I don't have a lot of hope for as each year goes on, but it's everyone, young, middle aged, old, male, female. Just all grouchy and in a hurry.

It's not even that I was raised with manners and respect and all that stuff, but I feel that's just common decency to act civil and polite. Am I alone here? I hate to give the impression that the end of the world is near because of this, but one bad customer can really sour your day. Is this an American thing what with all of our perceived freedoms and expectations and attitudes of "I deserve this" and "You owe me that?" Is it because we have computers and cell phones and have anything we want at our finger tips and so we demand instant satisfaction and we work more and more and are stressed to the max and have less time to enjoy life?

I'm just curious what other find where they live. Do you notice this or is it worse or not really noticeable?

 

[CABAL]

As far as I can tell, there have always been people like that, going back thousands of years. I suspect we notice it more as we get more jaded and as the population grows. As for why they behave that way, that's one of the great mysteries of human behavior to me. I understand selfishness, but I don't understand this kind of self importance and complete lack of compassion. I suspect that some are simply idiots and/or believe "the customer is always right" is literal truth. As for the others, I simply don't know.

 

[Zelph]

I've noticed it a fair bit in education. The freshman - at the university level - seem to get worse every year. They demand to be coddled more and more, assignments that students would do with no issues and less resources only eight years ago have become "impossible" now. And they don't want the knowledge the class offers, they just want to know what to do to get "the A."

Tis frustrating in the extreme.

 

[Avon]

Yeah I feel you buddy. Here in the UK its just the same. Most people are generally ignorant and usually rude and/or obnoxious as well.

I spent 12 years as an assistant manager of a shop, and my main memeories from that time are people shouting at me constantly.

Luckilly I too was laid of, and I took the oportunity to do something different and get away from customers!

 

[Majestic]

It happens everywhere I think mate, I think people are just becoming more anti-social due to the fact that social media, phones etc are becoming more and more ingrained to people at an early age. Society is changing, and the older aged people are having a hard time excepting that the younger generations aren't showing the same respect to them as they did when they were young to those who came before them. Many also seem to have an attitude problem when they expect the younger generations to bend over backwards for them, even when the people are complete strangers.

To be honest I think both groups, young and old, as a generalization need a wake up call. People wonder why I have social anxiety, well it's people like those you've mentioned that have helped it develop over the years into what it is today. It's one of many reason we moved out of the city and to the country. Since being here we have not encountered one incident where someone has done something anti-social or like what you've mentioned in your post. I feel it could be more a city thing, so many people living basically no top of one another and tempers do end up flaring.

 

[Katala]

It is definitely happening everywhere! As Maj said, we left the city for the country and people are alot nicer out here, though I still have my anxiety when I have to go out somewhere! The worst Ive seen out here is crazy drivers, young and old, people just dont seem to care anymore, they are becoming more and more aggressive, must be something in the air!

 

[Ryderstorm]

I have lived in two countries now both in rural and big city and I can say the problem now is people feel "entitled" It does not matter if they are young or old most people feel that they deserve instant attention and that they should be first in line etc... Children grow up now (for the most part) with very little actual responsibility or hardship. In school the education is dumbed down and every child is treated special or has a special condition weather autism or ADD or ADHD or whatever even if the child does not have it...the parents scream bloody murder if the child comes home with too much homework etc...Then you have adults who have to work a job they don't enjoy or are mistreated etc so they take out their frustrations on everybody around them by either being rude or aggressive. The problem is everybody feels that they are entitled to putting onto others their bad day or bad mood or whatever.

I strongly feel that people are not educated in school, at home, or professionally to be civil or kind DESPITE all the cultural sensitivity training you have to take now. What I do know is that 20 years ago when I was a child people were kind and civil and would say thank you. Now if you hold the door open for somebody they are more likely to be offended than to recognize it as a kind gesture.

I have found no difference between living in the country and big city...people are still the same...They feel entitled to chat loudly on their cell phone...the feel their child is entitle to special leniency at school...they feel entitled to watch Netflix for 4 hours a day...they feel entitled to rack up 20k in debt and not have to pay for it...and this is what they teach their children...so in that regard each generation is going to become less civil and more self centered....