Rudeness, noise, aggression, swearing, etc?

Question

How many of you out there actually SAY something to people in public places who give out any of the above? If you do, what do you say? What response do you get? Whatever happened to just sitting quietly on a bus or train or in a restaurant? Now, there are people talking and talking and talking all around you, and it seems to me nowadays that everyone is getting louder, that I have to hear conversations that are either intensely puerile or boring or intimate or vulgar, and there seems to be little that I can do to stop it all. It's really hard these days to find a quiet place. My own room is the exception.
And when I walk on the pavement in one direction, and schoolkids are coming towards me in the opposite direction, why is it that now I have to walk in the road? They stay as they are, three abreast, no thought of making way for anyone else. Is the situation with good manners now beyond saving? Must we just accept that everyone will now behave EXACTLY AS THEY PLEASE?

Only put this question 45 minutes ago but have had interesting and charming replies, thank you for them. Will leave the question open for more responses. Glad that I'm not alone in my thinking!

Answer 1

Kids are rude because their ignorant, obnoxious and dumb parents can't be bothered to teach them any manners.
Since i can remember i have respected my elders, always said "please" and "thank you" and held doors for people.
Young people now are ridiculous sometimes, especially when they work in a shop, they have miserable faces, don't look at you when serving you, never smile or speak.
When i give an assistant my money i at least want a frigging "thanks". Yeah you may hate havign to get off your spotty bottom to work but thats life you suckers, you are lucky that you can get a job and earn a living.
Arghhhhhh teenagers i can't stand them.
Rant over , Thank you, have a nice day and please do come again.

Answer 2

It's totally annoying to see the amount of rudeness out there. It all seems to have come from the "me" generation of thought. Parents should go back to teaching good manners and behaviors. Cell phones have added just another dimension of "I'm the only important person here" idea. But confronting people is a potentially dangerous action and could bring on more trouble than you need to deal with. Be the one with the manners and propriety and hope that it will help set good examples. With any luck eventually these louts will be in the minority.

Answer 3

Move to Lincolnshire, I swear you will love it. They are about 20 years behind there, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. In that the pace of life is slower, everyone is ultra friendly and people still have manners. When passing people out on a walk, you get a "good morning". Schoolkids, on the whole, move out of the way for you.

Cities cause us to be insular, feel threatened and insecure, which in itself breeds aggression and violence. People feel the need to be in constant communication, so everyone is talking. If you don't have 13 messages waiting, you are no one. Its all a little sad really, how much we miss when we are running around busying everywhere.

Answer 4

Yes I do say something, normally I get a positive response, it probably helps that I am over 6 foot tall and can be rather intimidating.

The only way for them to learn is for people to show them or tell them what they are doing wrong. The government is turning this country into a nanny state by telling us what we can and can't do and everybody just accepts it, unfortunately though, ethics, morals and respect is not high up on peoples priority, until it is nothing will change except for it to steadily and gradually worsen.

Answer 5

I find it disturbing that people are very loud and rude. Sometimes I do say something. Often, I will stop and stand still and let people walk around me. Kids will often walk around me and not say anything. I find that humor rather than belligerence helps keep confrontations down. For example, when teens are really loud and I can't hear someone next to me, I say something like, "Excuse me, but these old ears aren't working too well and I can't hear the person next to me. Can you help me out by toning it down a little?" I am smiling when I say it. Usually, I'll get a polite response in return.

Answer 6

I feel exactly the same way. I refuse to let it keep me in the house, but it takes a thick skin and a strong stomach to go out in public some times.

I am extra glad to meet up with the nice people that are still around and have a pleasant unexpected little conversation while standing in line. It makes it all worth it.

I do not engage people who are rude in public. I disregard them if possible. I just have no trust in them not to hit me or shoot me or something!

Answer 7

Years ago we were walking through a park, a crowd of lads were sitting listening to their " Getto blaster ", my husband walked over & said, my children over there cannot hear your music, they kept saying what !..... but as he walked away, they turned it down so low it could not be heard, they were still there hours later with the volume low... if a crowd are on the street, I just keep walking, one of them will always move onto the road if not confronted.... I suppose it is how we either ignore our fears to get the result we want without confrontation, or do reverse physcology

Answer 8

my husband told off the paper lad today who left the newspaper at the end of the drive my husband told him not to leave his **** allover the place and either put thru the door or take it away, he swore at my husband who told him off. my hubbie would say something providing it did not compromise his safety, i always want to say something to the school kids who swear and play crappy music on the bus but am outnumbered, the problem with approaching anyone nowadays is that you just don't know who you are dealing with, they could be a psycho or have a knife. its a very sad situation i hope my kids never behave like that because if they do they will get their asses kicked.

Answer 9

I someone walks in front of you and gets in your way stand still and let them walk round you, be strong. If they object tell them to F*** off. You have to move with the times, there is no reason to be unnecessarily rude but in the same breath you have to stand up for yourself in the current climate. The upper classes have been telling people to F*** off on a daily basis for centuries so this is nothing new and certainly not a class issue.

Answer 10

They say the 80's were the time that taste forgot. Looks like the 21st century will be the time that good manners became outdated. It's all "Sod you, I'm alright", "Me first" and "Am I bovvered what you think".

Maybe we can do something, but is it worth the pain of being stabbed 'cos you wuz in hiz way? Nahwataymeen?