Are we getting ruder....?

PS I can spell scenario and after - but sometimes my fingers can't

Oh! Yes! gracesmum. I have often wondered why it is that some people think their age allows them to be rude and sometimes aggressive, and as you say we are quick enough to condemn the younger generation for their bad manners, and behaviour, but there are some of the older generation who could teach them a thing or two. I have a great respect for people who have to use wheelchairs or walking sticks, but not those who seem to expect that everyone should stand aside for them. I try to be polite, and smile when being served, and make allowances for the less able, it doesn't take too much of an effort, and I am not worn out with pushing and shoving at the end of the day.

Not only do we get bad manners on the street but now on the internet, it's everywhere and there is no excuse for it whatever the age of the person.
I find it almost unbelievable the way some people are rude just for the hell of it, and so nasty with it.

I remember a scramble for the 16.56 from Paddington when I was sent flying by an older woman with 2 walking sticks who had developed the technique of using her backpack as a weapon.

(I should have retaliated with a clip round the bonce with my laptop case, but I'm a well brought up Phoenix, I am)

I was seated on a Manchester train at Euston with friends last year. A very rude woman with two teenagers poked her face close to mine and said 'you'd better move out of my seat!' I showed her my ticket and asked to see hers. She was on the wrong train. My friend pointed to the one on the next platform, and said 'that looks like your train.'

The woman swore and bustled off with the teenagers, and my giggling friend said 'I have no idea what the other train is, but I can't abide rude people!' As our train pulled out, we could see her in the distance scratching her head

when

I saw a bus today with the words "Kickass2" on it, in big letters. I think it must be the name of a current film. It's the way the world's going.

I am completely incapable of keeping the odd "shite!", or even the less frequent, "fuck!", out of my speech when something really horrible happens. It just happens. Really sorry, anyone in the immediate vicinity.

J

My language has gone downhill fast the older I get. There are so many horrid things going on in my life that I just can't hold the words back ( not in front of the children though!)

I was leaving a shop the other day behind an elderly lady walking with two sticks and being helped by a younger man. The people behind were tutting and pushing because she was moving so slowly. I found myself standing behind her trying to be a barrier between her and the people behind who seemed intent on pushing her out of the way! The people behind were around 40/50 (that's years not numbers!)

j08 I too have been known to use a few expletives when frustrated or v. annoyed! However I am usually v.polite in public places but am happy to 'assert' my opinion with a smile if I feel someone has shoved in or is being rude!
' Sorry you probably did not see me waiting patiently here'

is a phrase I have used more than once.. I say it cheerily and with a smile..I have only had apologies..even from those who definitely knew they were shoving in!
I hate to see people being snotty to waiting or shop staff. Everyone should be shown courtesy.

I let rip to a dog walker on the beach one day I was playing with GD and there were other babies on the sand and this woman let her dog off the lead and I saw red.

I've only used the F word twice in 'company' as it were. Once on GN to a very rude poster and once when I dropped a frozen turkey on my foot and broke my big toe

The lady who was behind me in the checkout yesterday seemed intent on ramming her trolley up my backside whilst I was in the process of paying and she was not that much difference in age to me,I did ask her would she mind me paying my bill before she took the ankles from underneath me though ? her husband had the check to tell me that "there's no need to snap"

^^ check should read cheek

Being +size my usual retort is "I'm not hard to see"

If I hold the door for someone and they just sail through I say thank you in my most sarcastic tone. Occasionally they apologise.

I do that too nina!

Aka I think you can be forgiven for using the F word , if you dropped a frozen turkey on your toe and broke it !

I really notice it now when I am away from home but can honestly say that I don't experience it around here and I think our population is older than the average. You could all move to Malvern!

Recently I was in an airport lounge, picked up a coffee and a sandwich and went to an empty seat to log on. I was drinking my coffee and a woman came up and unpleasantly said "That's my seat". I replied that I had no idea as there was nothing to indicate that it was occupied. Her response was very rude! Of course I moved and found a seat nearby but admit to asking the man opposite if it was anyone's seat as I did not wish to be abused again! She glowered at me and soon left. She was about 50.

When I have been away from home and experienced such people it is always a relief to come back.

Another side of the story, which came through to me in a newsletter from the Museum where I volunteer. Evidently a member of the staff, or more likely a volunteer there, had seen someone struggling with walking sticks, and about to leave the Museum, he/she produced a wheelchair and pushed the visitor to the carpark. A lovely letter was printed in thanks for that action, and the printing of it must have made a lot of the people who give their time at the Museum, a great deal of pleasure.

When we got on the plane a couple of weeks ago there was a couple sitting in our seats. When I spoke to them about it she answered that her husband had a problem walking so we would have to sit further back in their seats - no apology! We spoke to the staff and, again no apology, even though we explained that we had specifically booked seats at the front, just told to sit in the seat behind ours and those people would have to move. I was miffed for the whole flight but would have been fine if they had only expressed an apology.

Once when my son was about 14 I sat in the car for ages waiting to give him a lift home. Time passed and he eventually sauntered up with a friend. He started to rabbit on about what they'd been doing and I was so mad I just yelled "Shut up and get in the effing car !!!!" Years later they were still talking about the day I swore at them

I also was trying to pay at a supermarket checkout. The man behind me barged past and started getting shopping bags ready for his wife in a very aggressive manner. I tapped him on the arm,''I'm so sorry,'' I said,''Had I known you were in such a hurry I would have let you go first.''