Why are so many people so angry?

My hubby’s a stickler for observing the speed limit in towns motorways etc and on narrow roads , he gets glared at as other motorists shoot passed him at break neck speed … we were travelling to Yorkshire once and were on a narrow road , a car hooted and shot passed us hubby muttered “ see you round the next bend ! “ and oh crumbs we got about a mile up the road and lo and behold the same driver had misjudged the bend and was in a ditch , fortunately unharmed but looking very sorry for himself, he was on his phone to someone but we did stop and offer assistance which he declined as the AA we’re on their way … more haste less speed Mr N muttered as we drove away !!

Purpledaffodil

Turning into a side road yesterday, I had to stop as a vehicle was overtaking parked cars and my car was bumped from behind. I got out and checked for damage and found none. The other driver was a young girl who was quivering with fear. I told her there was no damage and anyway it was only a car. She was so relieved! But Being sexist I did wonder how two testosterone charged men might have dealt with it? (Being a faint hearted feminist I didn’t tell DH though. ?)

A few years ago, I was waiting to enter a large roundabout near my house, and as I started to move, a car came round at high speed, forcing me to brake sharply - and the man behind to hit my back bunper...
I was apprehensive as the middle aged man got out - but his first words were, "Are you all right? That was completely my fault..!" He made me feel so much better - and his car had a headlight smashed, while mine had a minor scratch on the bumper, which I ignored...?

Well before Covid I found people more aggressive. I worked in catering, there were customers who complained about everything, customers who shouted and bawled. I used to say if they didn't stop shouting, I would need to get them escorted from the premises. There were also those who for whatever reason, were having a bad day and wanted someone to take it out on. I did have some lovely regulars. Lockdown/Covid has definitely made this worse and I have my head on a swivel while out and am wary who I engage with.

Thank goodness for the helpful man in the shop.

My OH had our car written off last week by someone making an illegal turn across oncoming traffic to get into a petrol station. 15 minutes later an aggressive woman turned up saying that she was two cars behind and saw that it was my OH’’s fault. Shortly after another ‘witness’ turned up , shouting the same message. OH took pictures of their cars. Luckily, a shop over the road had cameras and rooted out some footage and sent it to us. It shows the man’s dangerous manoeuvre and there is no sign of the witnesses or their cars. The shopkeeper could see how aggressive the man and his friends were and didn’t like it one bit. It doesn’t save our car but I’d love to see his and his friend’s faces when they realise their ‘mistake’.

I worked with a woman for whom empathy was her watchword. However, behind the wheel she was horrendous, never gave way, flashed V signs at other motorists she just cut up, ignored speed limits, etc. I rarely accepted a lift with her. When I was working, with children at home still, I used to regard traffic hold ups as a time to clear my head, not get wound up.

We have our own driveway and LO is on end of life so have carers visit 3 times a day. They usually pull onto the drive, but twice the neighbours on either side have knocked and complained because a couple of the girls parked at the top (across my drive). Neighbour on one side is a hopeless driver and nearly took the front off the carers car, then next day she put her two wheelie bins across my drive and carers couldn't even open their car door. Neighbour other side came out and told the girls to move so her husband could get in, then he knocked on and said they were churning the grass up (yet his daughter does it). Sounds petty doesn't it and it is, I've never complained to either of them about anything in 30 years of living here, maybe I should start but I don't have the inclination. Sad people.

My friend's son is a Binman and he gets this almost every day, road rage because the lorry slows up traffic and this went on long before covid.
A friend of mine has just been trolled on Facebook with very nasty threats over a post about flowers.
I just think we live in a world where people are so entitled they think they are more important than others and think its ok to express anger when they feel like it.

My friend used to have road rage. He shouted obscenities at a group of 5 teenagers who dashed across the road infront of his car. Then he had to stop at red lights. They came back and kicked the whole side of his car and smashed the wing mirror, then ran off laughing.
Road rage cured but hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JaneJ
I'm going to be rude now <oh dear> but me and my older son call the roundabout where the A1 meets the M25, masturbaters island as people are either being a w**ker on it or calling someone else

That made me lol ?!

It is tempting to blame lockdown for this, but sadly this sort of behaviour has existed for years and seems to be getting worse.

Certainly report any threats made, especially with anything that could be regarded as a weapon and a screwdriver certainly qualifies!

If you husband was sitting in the cab of his lorry with the driver's door locked, he might consider saying, "Don't blame me, mate. I am doing the job I am paid for. Take it up with me boss." Then hand out the phone number of the firm he works for.

Putting up with this kind of bad behaviour will only increase the instances of it.

I think that many people feel powerless in their lives today and it makes them lash out if things go wrong. Anxiety can have the same effect, people boil over at the slightest thing.

So many people are rude, aggressive a d have no patience whatsoever, especially on the road. Having said that there all also some people on the road that shouldn’t be - driving standards are absolutely dreadful.

I live in London and our public transport is good but there does seem to be a culture of entitlement amongst some drivers who expect to be able to drive everywhere whether they need to or not, and hang the consequences to the climate and our health. It's very unpleasant as a pedestrian, witnessing idiotic behaviour by some drivers.

All we see and hear nowadays is negativity from the media outlets and the pandemic has made everything worse. All the soaps have negative storylines ,the woke brigade suck the happiness and joy out of life it's no wonder we are angry

My friend lives directly opposite a site where one house has been demolished and they are building five. Although the delivery drivers are there blocking the road and preventing any other traffic from moving for a relatively short time, they are almost immediately replaced by another. She is often prevented from leaving her drive for hours at a time.
I can understand the frustration felt, though not the rage!

I feel very sorry for your husband but think he should just protect his own back & not get involved arguing . People have been living under immense strain & I think we are seeing some rather strange behaviour as a result of the fear & post covid shock syndrome.
I think we all need to be kind to each other. Its very strange that in a period when we have been staying at home to protect each other- a very selfless act- we now no longer know how to interact properly with each other and society is becoming selfish.

Turning into a side road yesterday, I had to stop as a vehicle was overtaking parked cars and my car was bumped from behind. I got out and checked for damage and found none. The other driver was a young girl who was quivering with fear. I told her there was no damage and anyway it was only a car. She was so relieved! But Being sexist I did wonder how two testosterone charged men might have dealt with it? (Being a faint hearted feminist I didn’t tell DH though. ?)

One of my pet hates if tail gating. All I can see is the front of their car in my mirror as they are almost on my bumper. Even if they overtook me they would only gain one car length, so what is so important? Maybe they think I am going to combust!

M0nica

I think a lot of it goes back to modern child rearing methods that seem to think that to tell a child outright that they cannot do or must do something, is somehow to damage to their little psyches. I am not talking about children who run roughshod over everything and really do do what they want when they want - but I do think that number has increased - but child rearing practices that suggest you should avoid ever saying 'no' a child, that they should be led to doing the right thing without the use of that word.

The problem is, as children grow up they will meet the word 'no' all the time, there are laws they must obey, there are things that will be expected of them at work and all sorts of occasions when in some form or another, when someone or something will say 'No' - as the traffic lights do. They will not be gently talked to to encourage them to do something. They will just be told 'No' and I think this means when this happens they resent it, are not used to it and just barge through.

I think you have found the nail and soundly hit it on its head.

Before he retired my DH was a paramedic and he has had lots of abuse about blocking access when attending blue light incidents - people can be so self centred

Covit crap pensions unemployment,
Poverty brexit ill
ness no health cover collapsing society,collapsing world take your pick

I think the basis of many emotions just now is fear. The pandemic has shaken us all to the core. I know I'm different. Hopefully, it will all settle again with patience and forbearance. Even for the rude and angry ones. Many astounding acts of kindness and bravery outweigh the bad, I think.

Quite agree Monica.