Grumpy Old Woman moment

[Motherwoman]

Is it me or do people just not care how they behave in puplic any more? Walking through town Friday morning I was behind a woman who was having a row on her mobile phone,she was giving the FULL range of swear words totally oblivious to various people and children around her,when she had finished she just put the phone away and carried on with her shopping!Did she think we were in a soap opera? or that she was in a sound proof bubble?Are we all complicit to her behaviour because we all ignored her? Ditto the two blokes who greeted each other with raised middle fingers and various swear words uttered in a friendly manner complete with back slaping.....and while I'm at it how about the bloke living in one of the houses behind our plots who I caught tipping the stinking sludge from the bottom of his pond onto next doors plot who just grinned and walked away.........
That's it....... moment over,I feel better now,I'm off to take the dried frog pills.....

[Motherwoman]

[Robert_Brenchley]

I think the difference is that people don't know their neighbours any more. Anonymity breeds rudeness and worse.

[MollyBloom]

I know this is an old-fashioned view in this Wonderful Postmodern Age, but I think the media (especially advertising) has something to do with the way people behave now (in my view, it doesn't just reflect modern culture, it also influences it). Just look at the number of tv ads where people steal each other's food or try to put one over on someone in some way. Also, why do so many ads, apparently aimed at adults, have to involve babyish cartoon characters or peurile storylines? Personally, I'd like to be thought of as a grown-up.... (She wanders off to feel whether the teapot is still warm, grumbling as she goes)

[busy_lizzie]

Know what you mean, and sometimes I have to stop myself grumbling too as I sound quite archetypal! My daughter had a few incidences last week of real rudeness at the Store where she works and my son in law to be drove all the way to a job to fix a computer at his own expense and the people actually shouted because he hadn't got there earlier and he was doing them a favour.  Also some of the Receptionist in our Doctor's Practice are so sourfaced,you would think they were doing you a huge favour letting you see the Doctor.....I could go on.  Why aren't people nicer to each other - to be so mean all the time, is just to spread the misery and has a real knock on effect on everyone. Are people really so unhappy nowadays?  :( busy_lizzie

[Debs]

...agree with all said.

Manners and treating people with respect seem to be non-existent.

Debs

[pansy]

I totally agree, the language you hear walking down the street, is it that no-ones bothered or is it more that (like me to be honest ) they daren't complain because you don't know what you'll get back? Not forced to be just words, either.
My Gran always said 'good manners cost nothing' , very true isn't it? If only everyone showed a little respect for each other, what a different world it could be.

[Curryandchips]

I think that is a very perceptive comment Robert.

[Carol]

Oh I am definately a grump?  I despair at the ways of life now.  My recent 'grump' has been dealing with car companies.  Why are folk so familiar nowadays.  Straight away I was called 'Carol'  Yes, I know its me name but really, I expect my Surname until I say to them  just call me 'Carol'.   Goodbye  Carol    the other day from a woman I never seen in my life before.  Respect!!!!!

??? ???

[cleo]

I can be grumpy,I can be nice. What pisses me off is/are bad maners-sometimes I loose it. I happen to know a check out operator at a local supermarket. She speaks five languages and is working there to fund her new project. A customer was being totally rude and said some thing like `Well you a foreign aren`t you"-I lost it-said to her-pay up and piss off. Not subtle I admit

[greyhound]

What I hate is being ignored by cashiers.  All too often the whole transaction passes without a word being uttered by her (it is almost always the old women who are worst, and not the blokes or young girls.)  Or at least they don't say a word to YOU, but continue having conversations with someone else.  And they won't look at you.

This is NOT in the supermarkets (except Asda) any more. There is now clearly a policy of cheerful greeting - and how much more pleasant it is than the bad old days.  No, this is the smaller shops.  Miserable old crones. >:(

[MrsKP]

i wonder if it's because we're surrounded by so much fake niceness that  the real meaning of it is lost amongst the spin.

As in Carol's example, there is so much emphasis placed on treating you like a long lost friend rather than true old fashioned good customer service.  the lines have been blurred.

i'm not explaining what i'm thinking very well, but i think all the rudeness is a kickback to the false "have a nice day culture" that we have imported.

i was always frightened to death of being rude when i was a kid cos i would be punished (not at all severely btw), but now none of the kids are scared anymore and a lot grow up into very rude, selfish and greedy individuals. 

on the other side of the coin however, i met a young chap at the football, only 16.  if you believe the press, he's a stereotypical football hooligan, because of the team he supports.  i've not met such a nice young man in a long time.   very articulate, despite his effing and blinding on the terraces, and has a really good work ethic.  i think because we can't vent our spleen in the traditional way any longer, it just oozes into every day life.

not sure if i'm talking rubbish but I know what i mean  ;D

[telboy]

I would suggest that animals such as pigs or chickens packed into close proximity will eventualy attack each other. In this country of some 55 million the density of the population is verging on the same practice. Other influencies come into play of course - buy it ain't gonna get better, is it?

[MrsKP]

interesting theory mate.

[lorna]

Another grumpy old woman here!!
We have a family who walk through our small estate to get to the school. The Mother screams at the kids , her screaming is dotted with the most foul language. The other day one of her children, a boy about 10years old was also using the same language. What chance do the kids have with parents like that?. The Mother didn't bat an eyelid when he used that language.
As for television advertising. I get really mad when they advertise food items by showing children having the most teriible eating habits. GRRRRRRRRRR.
I keep promising myself that I will write to those concerned!!

[Motherwoman]

I agree,you don't know what you're going to get back if you remonstrate with them,In my Gran's day the offender would have have several redoubtable older matrons telling them to wash their mouth out with soap and water before they got too far down the High Street.
I asked some youngsters,aged between about 7 and 11 to leave the allotment site,where they had no business being,they were starting to throw stuff about from peoples plots,I was perfectly polite about it but was told by one that I was "really starting to p*** him off",I was on my own,What do you do?

[MrsKP]

woah a hard one, they were just as likely to be carrying a weapon of some description.

:o

[Mrs Ava]

oh dear....does that mean us gardeners are grumps!  ;)

I am always very frightened of being rude or cause offense, but what I hate is two facedness.  Those fakes smiles and questions, which you answer, yet you know they are neither interested, or listening!

I am happy in my own little Universe!  ;D

[jennym]

I'm sure a TV programme on grumpy old women could be quite entertaining !

[Roy Bham UK]

I'm sure a TV programme on grumpy old women could be quite entertaining !

;D There is one see here...http://www.grumpyoldwomenlive.com/team/

Also of Grump Old Men too, of which I am one ;D

[Merry Tiller]

Just don't get me started