I think people are starting to be more rude and mean. What gives?

Question

What is making everyone so mean? I always try to be nice, even to strangers.

Answer 1

the stupidity levels are way up that's the problem.

Answer 2

Part of the problem (besides not being taught any manners growing up) is that these days, there is a "worship" of being "honesty." That it is alright to be "brutally" honest with others, regardless of how it makes THEM feel.

Manners/politeness is the idea of considering other peoples' feelings. But we worship the "self" these days... it makes US feel good to express ourselves. It's not WRONG to "express ourselves" ... heck... nothing is WRONG anymore. There's no shame, there's no wrong... how can you be rude if what you say to a person is not wrong?

Furthermore, the "culture" which is coming out of our entertainment industry considers rudeness and meanness to be FUNNY. It's funny to be nasty and insulting to others. There's also no consequences for being rude and mean... even if it's just being hauled off to the side by your parent(s) and being told you've done a naughty thing and to apologize.

If you are confronted by a rude or nasty person/comment, one effective way to react is to be totally SURPRISED and shocked, nearly horrified by the comment... "Oh MY! Why would you ever SAY such a thing?" That usually stops the person in their tracks (unless they don't give a d..n at all!) and makes them think, "Gosh, what did I say that was WRONG?"

Answer 3

The antidote to rudeness is manners. Manners aren't taught or given much importance these days.

Without instruction as to how to behave mannerly, rudeness is always the result.

Rudeness is generally a result of ignorance, but if someone who has been informed that their behavior is rude continues that behavior, then it is simply willful meanness.

Answer 4

Electronic age. I feel that with the ' convenience ' of cell phones, internet, my space web sites, cable t.v. etc. that people are becoming more emotional detached...thus more emotionally unaware and of less thought. The results . . . more people who are rude and mean.

I'm sure there are other factors also . . . yet, I believe that electronics as I mentioned has a large part of that.

Also. . . women who work instead of raising their children full time. I feel that many parents are simply raising ' people ' not future compassionate, aware, decent young adults.

I feel parents should be more aware that they aren't only raising their kids...they are also raising someone else's spouse, co-worker, future citizen, neighbor, friend . . .
.

Answer 5

Apart from media exposure, declining education time. commercials, imported materials and exported jobs? you mean?
Yes! there is meanness in the air. Man is a violent animal, Duality must be balanced with reason and caring.
Too many people on earth, the cage is full; and the rest is polluted.

Answer 6

Nah.. most people are just overly stressed out from cramming so much into their everyday lives that they have no time to spare for things like respect and manners. Stop and smell the flowers.. :)

Answer 7

People are frustrated with their lives. Life has gotten to fast paced. No time to be nice to people anymore, I guess there is money to be made. Why spend time being nice?

Answer 8

I agree with some of the previous answers. I have a sister-in-law who is 21 and lacking grace and manners, despite her little "education" at Barbizon. I guess they're not a finishing shcool. She uses her fingers for food when it's not appropriate, she grabs for stuff regardless of the negetive cosequences to herself or others. She's not been taught to wait. Her mother still dotes on her hand and foot. I pity her rude awakening in the real world if she ever moves out. Yet, i see some similar behaviors in her father. He has said and done some things (including similar table manners) that I would have never gotten away with growing up.

At the same time, my older sister-in-law (both are sisters of my husband) also seems to be lacking basic manners. She's rough around the edges, loud and uncouth. She has passed it on to her children. Then she wonders what's wrong with them.

I also thought of the media and what Hollywood and other forms of pop culture dribble is portraying. I've seen commercials for children's movies where a belch, without the person/creature saying excuse me, is supposed to be funny. That woudln't have flown in my house, nor will it fly with my children. As it's been said, "comedy" consists of making fun of people. I once had the misfortune of watching some guy with the White Collar Comedy Tour make fun of a fat woman. This guy looked as though he lived on red meat, french fries and other forms of processed "food". Yeah, he didn't look to be a healthy weight himself. Yet, the audience was laughing. I was apalled.

Last week I was waiting in line at a drug store. The woman in front of me was collecting her purchases and her personal items. I noticed he cell phone still on the counter. When it looked as though she was going to walk off without it, I kindly told her it was still on the counter. She said something to the effect of,"I wasn't going to walk off without it. I knew it was there." I got the impression that what right did I have to not only talk to her, but have the audacity to be nice to her. I commented that I would have a tendancy to walk off without mine.

A few weeks prior to that, I was walking into a restaurant. A boy, of about 14, held the door open for me. He didn't just keep pushing it as I walked in behind him, but stepped aside and held it and allowed me to walk in first. I was very pleasantly surprised and gave him a gracious thank you. I returned the favor with the internal door, partially because he was walking in with his family. My husband and I already had a table and I just went to my car to get my sanitizer. (We were at a buffet type place and since I don't know what kind of germs are on the utensils, I like to sanitize my hands before eating.)

Fortunately, my husband turned out good. His manners at home and in public, especially with work dinners are quite decent. He has room for improvement, but then, so do I. I've taught him and he's credited me for it. In terms of being considerate, he has a huge heart and I'm learing from him in that area.

I think working parents may contribute. However, my sister is divorced and has a four year old daughter. My sister's ex lives close and is still active in his daughter's life. The girl is smart and has good manners, despite both parents working full time.

I think it's just a matter of what kind of involvement the parents choose to have and how the kids react to that involvement.

The plan is for me to stay home while the child(ren) (I'm pregnant with our first), are young and to try and work at home. The overall plan is for my husband and me to put our child(ren) into God's hands and do the best we can with what we've been blessed.

Answer 9

i think it is because more people ( not everyone) are being raised without learning proper manners and they dont know how to be considerate or know what to do in certain situations. i'm not trying to stereotype people but i have noticed it a lot with people my age ( mid twenties) but even more so with younger adults. i think people dont care how they look to others, so they act however they please.

Answer 10

The world has gone mad, it was a few years back, where were you ?, I know it is no excuse but people are like sheep except the few like you and me, have a lovely day and relax