Are people getting... angrier?

[elijahenoch]

It was your Rover and Rolex that made them angry!

[Scream]

Jen you could relocate to the Central New York area but are you willing to deal with 150" of snow annually?

[ijen0311]

Originally Posted by elijahenoch

It was your Rover and Rolex that made them angry!

I was in the A4....

[bodybump]

To tell you frankly Jen..with this economy..people are more impatient with almost everything..we just dont know whats happening in their lives...we might think that they are rude and such..but deep inside they have bigger problems than us...i think it more of the economy thats making people more impatient to small things....i hope it ends soon...

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by AIKO

Sounds like he wanted his narcotic pain meds refilled early for the 10 straight month.

My thoughts exactly.

[kyle L]

Maybe they saw your watch, and they got jealous!

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Taffi Abernathy

People act-out for all kinds of reasons, most of the time having little or nothing to do with you. It's simply a matter of their anger is right there on the surface, and it takes little provocation for the person to release it. Also, there are aggressive types who actively seek confrontation because they elevate their self-esteem by bullying others. What happened today would have likely happened to anyone standing there - it wasn't personal. Nonetheless, I would have probably said something since saying nothing is akin to condoning the behavior, not necessarily "being good," You obviously felt strongly enough about what happened to bring it back to the forums and write about it. Think of something assertive, not aggressive, you might say should you find yourself in this type of situation again.

Once I was at a dairy store buying some milk and the clerk was just furious over something - she slammed my items around, demanded my ID with the check, just very curt to say the least. Something just made me look her in the eye and say, "I'm sorry - you must have had an awful day today." And you know what? She started to cry and said, Yes she had.

You just never know. But it definitely paid to say something nice.

[unclesallie]

Jen: I'm afraid you've put your finger right on the pulse of the nation...a lot of unhappy people acting out for various reasons. Makes me just want to hide sometimes, and other times act out like they are. Worst is, I'm not sure what the answer is, although some here have pointed the way to: kill them with kindness?

[ijen0311]

Originally Posted by unclesallie

Jen: I'm afraid you've put your finger right on the pulse of the nation...a lot of unhappy people acting out for various reasons. Makes me just want to hide sometimes, and other times act out like they are. Worst is, I'm not sure what the answer is, although some here have pointed the way to: kill them with kindness?

Tough to say, but I think at the end of the day, all that matters is the person you are

[Duc-904]

Jen you may also want to evaluate your body language. The car episode could have happened to anyone but the other two may have been you being perceived by these morons as an easy target.

[sea-dweller]

I've noticed a lot more anger in the past decade or so. More rat racing folks, with no patience, stressful lives and jobs and no concern for others. It's sad and it seems like it is getting worse...

[Taffi Abernathy]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Once I was at a dairy store buying some milk and the clerk was just furious over something - she slammed my items around, demanded my ID with the check, just very curt to say the least. Something just made me look her in the eye and say, "I'm sorry - you must have had an awful day today." And you know what? She started to cry and said, Yes she had.

You just never know. But it definitely paid to say something nice.

Lisa,

I agree that your approach was very effective in that instance. While it sounds like the clerk was quite rude, in Jen's case, the person referred to her as "a stupid bitch." Do you really feel you could have demonstrated the same degree of "empathy" had she directed this exact comment to you? I personally think it might be more difficult and here is my rationale: In your case, the clerk undoubtedly behaved in a passive-aggressive manner. But in Jen's case, the girl's hostility was arguably acted out more directly and may have been perceived as a more personal attack, IMO, further decreasing the likelihood that one would want to reach out. Faith

[JohnEaton]

Originally Posted by bodybump

To tell you frankly Jen..with this economy..people are more impatient with almost everything..we just dont know whats happening in their lives...we might think that they are rude and such..but deep inside they have bigger problems than us...i think it more of the economy thats making people more impatient to small things....i hope it ends soon...

Originally Posted by Lisa

Once I was at a dairy store buying some milk and the clerk was just furious over something - she slammed my items around, demanded my ID with the check, just very curt to say the least. Something just made me look her in the eye and say, "I'm sorry - you must have had an awful day today." And you know what? She started to cry and said, Yes she had. You just never know. But it definitely paid to say something nice.

Originally Posted by unclesallie

Jen: I'm afraid you've put your finger right on the pulse of the nation...a lot of unhappy people acting out for various reasons. Makes me just want to hide sometimes, and other times act out like they are. Worst is, I'm not sure what the answer is, although some here have pointed the way to: kill them with kindness?

I agree with all of you...

I think it is the economy... Many are losing their jobs, their house, their cars.

They played real estate and the stock market like it was a game they couldn't lose, now many are upside down and frantic or panicking...

I believe it will get worse before it gets better; we all need to learn to deal with these situations...

LISA, I like your way best

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by JohnEaton

I agree with all of you...

I think it is the economy... Many are losing their jobs, their house, their cars.

They played real estate and the stock market like it was a game they couldn't lose, now many are upside down and frantic or panicking...

I believe it will get worse before it gets better; we all need to learn to deal with these situations...

LISA, I like your way best

As Faith pointed out, John, there is a difference in that what happend to Jen was a very direct insult to her. I'm not sure anything like that has happened to me in a face-to-face encounter and without provocation, at least, not that I can remember. I suppose I wouldn't know for sure how I would react until I found myself in that situation. I think if what happened to Jen at the food court happened to me, I might ask exactly what was on my mind: "Why in the world would you say something like that to me?"

[onkyo]

Normal day in NYC.

[JJ Irani]

Fantastic day in Auckland.

Nice people, great weather, courteous drivers, hardly ever any rudeness.

I think I'm in the right country!!

[Omega_Precision]

All we can do right now with everything as it is in society is to stay positive.

I try to turn everything negative into something positve x2......

[Denny M]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

I've noticed a lot more anger in the past decade or so. More rat racing folks, with no patience, stressful lives and jobs and no concern for others. It's sad and it seems like it is getting worse...

I fully agree. And the bigger the city, the worse the problem imo.

It is a general and continual breakdown in the moral fibre of society.

There's an intersection on my way home. Usually there is a long queau of cars waiting for the green arrow to come on so they can turn. The green arrow lasts maybe 5 seconds. We have to wait at least 5/6 changes of light to turn. Nearly every day, some idiot will drive all the way to the front of the line, past all the other cars waiting patiently and then dangerously overtake the first car waiting in order to be the first to turn and skip the queau.

This displays is an utter lack of respect for every other road user as well as the road rules. It's a completely selfish act.

And there lies the problem - we have become an extremely different egocentric society.

In addition Australia's migration policy has accepted people from countries where the culture is completely different and in many cases incompatible.
Social norms in other countries are very different including social conduct. Most immigrants adjust well but there is an element which insists on continuing their incompatible bad behaviour. These people are of no value to the country, they just serve to make it a worse place. If you live in western Sydney you will know what i mean! Every one tells me the place has changed for the worse over the years. I'm sure this also happens in other "western" countries.

[Tombstone]

I am sorry to have read about the fools who treated you rude. I am nice until someone is rude to me first, then I go off the deep end. It is not the correct way to act but I see it as I am telling this person you picked the wrong person and now I will give it back to you 20 fold. Is this wrong maybe, I feel people think the world owes them. Due to this false view people act stupid.

I say yes the world is becoming some upset, I don't know how to fix the problem. I feel this way because so many factors are adding to the social break down (the press, poor government elected officials, bad roll models, drug use, and the me first attitudes just to name a few.)

[Jimbits76]

Angry people annoy the hell out of me.

They are so rude and get so irate and it's a real human failing to not to be able to control your temper.

In fact when people get angry it annoys me so much that I usually beat them half to death with a tyre iron whilst screaming a loud unidentifiable continous roar.



J

[swatty]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

Angry people annoy the hell out of me.

They are so rude and get so irate and it's a real human failing to not to be able to control your temper.

In fact when people get angry it annoys me so much that I usually beat them half to death with a tyre iron whilst screaming a loud unidentifiable continous roar.



J

Now thats the way to deal with these angry people Jim

[seantk]

You handled it well

Sean

[Lion]

Hey, what ever happen to let's make love not war???
Is peace that hard to strive for!!!

[Jimbits76]

Originally Posted by Lion

Hey, what ever happen to let's make love not war???
Is peace that hard to strive for!!!

Yeah now all of you agree with the man or I'll beat you half to death with a tyre iron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J

[Lion]

Well we did have the right idea in the 60's with the flower children and peace rallies!!!

[ratae1950]

Originally Posted by Taffi Abernathy

I disagree with this point of view. After all, everyone has problems of some sort. Nonetheless, this doesn't give one a license to hurl expletives at strangers.

They are just words. Getting involved with these people will just increase your own stress. Turn the other cheek, is good advice.

[Jimbits76]

Originally Posted by ratae1950

They are just words. Getting involved with these people will just increase your own stress. Turn the other cheek, is good advice.

That is true but carrying some sort of irate animal is another option.

Angry Badger?
Slightly miffed Squirrel?
Disillusioned Shrew?
Perhaps an enraged crocodile?

Nobody will mess with you if you have one of them slung over your shoulder, well maybe the shrew...it's hard to see if they are disillusioned or not at first glance.

J

[B Square]

Originally Posted by Lion

Well we did have the right idea in the 60's with the flower children and peace rallies!!!

Those were indeed the good times. Sadly I don't remember a damn minute of it

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

That is true but carrying some sort of irate animal is another option.

Angry Badger?
Slightly miffed Squirrel?
Disillusioned Shrew?
Perhaps an enraged crocodile?

Nobody will mess with you if you have one of them slung over your shoulder, well maybe the shrew...it's hard to see if they are disillusioned or not at first glance.

J

I'm telling ya, the female Naked Mole Rat will solve all of your problems. Teach her to ride around on your shoulder and urinate at will on the perpetrators. They'll not bother you again, and female perps may end up infertile! (at least, it works on other mole rats.)

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I'm telling ya, the female Naked Mole Rat will solve all of your problems. Teach her to ride around on your shoulder and urinate at will on the perpetrators. They'll not bother you again, and female perps may end up infertile! (at least, it works on other mole rats.)

Now we will have to listen to ole' RainbowWarrior76 go on and on about golden showers.