Why are so many people so angry?

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!

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. ?)

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.

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!

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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 ?!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’.

Thank goodness for the helpful man in the shop.

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.

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...?

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 !!

pinkjj27

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.

Good post, I agree ??

i have had no personal experience of the pandemic bringing people together, only of mobs declaring that the pandemic is a hoax, ant maskers and anti vaxxers, such angry from so many, even the illegal raves, mainly young ones look crazy, i know we can blame the pandemic and mental health partly for this but if i have to hear again someone say that they need to go abroad for a holiday because of mental health i will scream

Generally speaking where we live is a pleasant little small town full of nice folk, chatty and friendly, kind and courteous but we do get a lot of 'incomers' who seem to think the town is here for their convenience and entertainment.

The parking on pavements, the yelling, the dog excrement, cycling on pavements and litter are heartbreaking to a small community where we try hard to take care of our environment and be proud of what we are lucky to have

Of course visitors are welcome as they boost the local trade, fill the cafes and bring a welcome holiday season to our quiet backwater but it does seem people are getting stroppier, more 'entitled' and are arguing and screaming at us as if it is their 'right' to use our hard work as their playground to use and abuse as they please

During lockdown I have both been amazed at how kind and warm people have been and also how some can be so rude and arrogant too

I am practising Zen and my 'looks' that my sons used to say made them freeze in their tracks!

How I agree with this post!
Road users especially are impatient,cut in front even ifyou are doing the speed limit ! The look as they pass is laughable especially as I am a senior citizen . If I get a shake of the fist ( traffic conditions safe) I smile and wave back
Pleased I have not driven for a while
Keep smiling gransnetters ?

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Dear Ealdemor, I strongly advise your husband to contact his line manager/head office, with the list of dates/times/places when the incidents of harassments & threats of not only physical harm to him but also to a property of the company (a vehicle) occurred. It should go on file with the HR Department. Reason - he suffered psychological/physical harm. Vehicle is disabled - hence calling the police, he can't travel - taxi expenses to get home, hospital bills, etc. You've got my gist. He should demand (not ask meekly) a body camera. I used to work as an office manager in a huge care consortium. We had staff travelling to/from work to residential care homes. In one rough estate area of West London (Greenford) we had cases of bullying of care staff & clients while on a walk in the neighbourhood & damage to staff's parked personal vehicles. We involved police, prosecuted the tenants of the estate, gave body cameras & personal alarms to staff. Yes, I would add it to the body camera. When next your husband is verbally/physically attacked he should pull the pin out. I can assure you - it works a treat on criminals. The noise is a high-pitched siren of unbearable volume. I rather like it personally myself (I started as a carer in the same area before graduating from the Uni & becoming a head of reception in the head office. After a year, I was promoted to the post of the Office Manager. One of my duties was preparing all paperwork re: staff to the HR Department. Hope this info helps. In the meantime, your husband should demand a work mobile with the camera to record the incidents - a face/body of an attacker, the neighbourhood - exact place where it happened & e-mal it straight to the HR Department, also to the police, if the company sits on its hands This abhorrent, criminal & unlawfulbehaviour by the members of the public should not be tolerated.