Have you noticed that everywhere you go there are people that have a chip on their shoulder, for no apparent reason?
When I'm out somewhere, I try to keep to myself, give people the benefit of the doubt, and mind my own business.
People have no patience any more. Yesterday I came out of church with my family, pulled out on the main road, and some jerk starts riding my bumper. He seems to be getting more and more irate, for no apparent reason. I was going 5-10 over. This seems to happen at least a few times a month around here. When I'm by myself I usually slow down 5 mph at a time, until they back off. I have been as slow as 25 in a 55. The reaction is priceless... they just completely boil over. I am always going a reasonable speed when the tailgating starts (usually 10 over) on this particular road. I can be the only car on the road, and these people still feel the need to mimic a 2-car train. Why can't people just be patient and give you your space?
It's not such a problem when I'm alone. I keep a nice-sized adjustable wrench in the floor beside me, for the time when someone wants to take it to the next level. But, when my kids are with me, it's a different situation.
Yesterday I pulled in to a gas station, and it was really busy. I pulled in to a free pump, to find out it was out of order. The middle pump was diesel. I pulled up behind the guy who was pumping at the forward pump and waited. A woman in a cherokee pulled in behind me, so I couldn't back out. She is getting really pissed that I'm not using the middle pump. Nothing I can do now. So, the guy in front of me gets done, and I pull up and start pumping. She pulls up to the diesel pump, and gets out quickly, giving me a dirty look, and I'm praying that she won't notice that she is about to fill her SUV up with diesel. She scans her card, and ALMOST starts pumping, and then sheepishly says... oh, I almost put diesel in it! Bummer... would have been too funny. She looked pretty embarassed. I hope it made her think about how she was acting like a moron.
People in our nation have gotten way too out of hand in the last twenty years or so. They're always in a hurry, don't care about courtesy anymore and forget being reasonable, it's not happening.
A lot of people complain about the 60s and 70s but I was growing up then and things were a whole lot simpler and slower. We developed into a "me" nation in the 80s and it started going downhill from there.
Originally Posted by jadebird... would have been too funny. She looked pretty embarassed. I hope it made her think about how she was acting like a moron.
It probably did, for about 5 seconds until she got over it and does it all over again to the next person when she fills up.
You're not going crazy. People in general these days have no patience. We live in a world of immediate gratification. From information gathering to driving from point A to point B. Unfortunately driving, as opposed to information gathering, has not changed much over the decades, but people's patience levels have.
Yeah, I agree that people are out of control. Nice people are very rare these days. Everyone is in a rush and out for themselves. The almighty dollar is driving them crazy. Andry Griffith sat on the porch after work and it didn't seem to bother him. Never saw him in a rush. LOL
Originally Posted by pooodsYeah, I agree that people are out of control. Nice people are very rare these days. Everyone is in a rush and out for themselves. The almighty dollar is driving them crazy. Andry Griffith sat on the porch after work and it didn't seem to bother him. Never saw him in a rush. LOL
I am kind of laid back being an old guy and such and I seem to be in everyone's way. Peace, Mike D.
As I remember growing up, in the 70's only my Dad had to work to support are family as the case with most other familys. Back in 1974 my Dad made $15.00 per hour turning wrench's and would have the summer off with the family because fire season would shut the bush down for logging. A house was $25,000 but as times changed, and we fast forward to the 2000's. The cost of living is out of controll and both parents have to work in most cases. Mom's and dad's of today are going in two different directions, working different shifts, trying to keep the kids in sports etc to try and keep them out of trouble and still only live pay cheque to pay cheque in alot of cases. Try and have a family holiday together now day's, you have to save all year or stick it on the plastic I see people driving in the fast lane going side by side with the car in the slow lane, I sit back in the slow lane watching and thinking, that person in the fast lane holding back the line up of cars wanting to get by must be a control freak of some sort. Who cares if they want to get pass. The sign says SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT I have enough stress in my life with out wondering why that other person in the fast lane is in a hurry Go to the mall and see who holds the door open for you, NO ONE. I still hold the door for people, it is called courtesy just like on the hwy, its called courtesy, if the car in the slow lane is going the speed limit then stay behind them, if you want to go 5 or 10 over then pass that person and get back in the slow lane. It is like turn signal's, they might as well not bother to put them on cars anymore Chris
no respect in driving no more ...it left in the mid 70's
it use to bother me way back ..but now I just ignore stuff ...
let them pass me up doing 20 over just to turn left 1/2 a block away
people are in rage mode so let em go ...its not worth it
Ride your bumper, get mad they can't pass you because there are is also rush hour traffic in the other lanes.
Then, they see a break and go for it!
Then what usually happens? They take the very next exit just an 1/8 mile further down the road.
My comment to these bumper riders when I do get an opportunity to have a word with them is.
Are you late for an appointment with your ophthalmologist?
You seem to have a problem with depth perception.
Causes?
Bad economy
High prices
Tough work environment
It goes on and on.
The speed of the world today and its demands are making people more irritable and unhappy.
Originally Posted by PaulGSCauses?
Bad economy
High prices
Tough work environment
It goes on and on.
The speed of the world today and its demands are making people more irritable and unhappy.
I agree, but I live in the same world. Why make it worse?
somebody closed the door on respect years ago. now it's all about me, me, me!!
does respect begin at home with parental discipline?
Originally Posted by gstewartsomebody closed the door on respect years ago. now it's all about me, me, me!!
does respect begin at home with parental discipline?
No kidding, I find most parent's don't have a clue where there kids are or what there doing.
Now day's it seems most people are up to there eye balls with bills not to mention the goverment giving out mountains of bailout money we don't have. Chris
I hate these rude drivers too. When I was younger and didn't have a little girl, I use to deal with them differently. I use to have an old Ford High Boy truck and when people would tailgate that, I would watch the mirror, and when they weren't looking at the truck a few short feet in front of them I would put my left foot on the brake just enough to make the lights come on. When they would look up and see a bumper at the top of their head and brake lights on they would react all kinks of crazy! Skidding when the put their brakes on some times. I never even slowed down when I did this, but as close as they were, and with as tall as my truck was, they didn't have time to evaluate the situation.
Now I mostly just slow down, hope they pass or back off.
I used to do the jab of the brake pedal then gas it so they don't hit me. Either made them back off.......or go nuts.
Not as much fun now that most cars have antilock brakes......
I was in the 65 Saturday with my wife and daughter. Some guy decides he wants to ride my ass. I was getting pretty pissed when he's less than 1/2 a car length off my rear bumper. I pulled to the side and let him go by. Funny thing, he catches the red light a block up and I'm right with him. Some people are just jagoffs.
Originally Posted by gstewartsomebody closed the door on respect years ago. now it's all about me, me, me!!
does respect begin at home with parental discipline?
yeah,except you are no longer allowed to disipline your child the same way we were.ie:spanking,grounded for extended periods,etc.
the school teachers around here teach the kids early what is allowed (time out) amp; what to do if they are abused (spanked).amp; if the kids don't like what the parents say,they threaten to phone the 1-800 #.
No, I don't think so at all, but I do find there are alot more old men complaining about the current times, and waxing nostalgic about the "good old days".
Originally Posted by kenm455yeah,except you are no longer allowed to disipline your child the same way we were.ie:spanking,grounded for extended periods,etc.
the school teachers around here teach the kids early what is allowed (time out) amp; what to do if they are abused (spanked).amp; if the kids don't like what the parents say,they threaten to phone the 1-800 #.
I wonder if the words "Just you wait till your Dad gets home!" still strikes the fear of God in a child like it did me back in the early 60's?
My Dad was never abusive, but even in public he wouldn't hesitate to reprimand me.
I am sure other adults at the time thought to themselves.
"The kid probably had it coming! Give him a swat for me!"
I tend to think that two working parents and the kid being raised by the school is a part of it. People not being let to discipline their child is part of it.
Many, not nearly all but many kids today think that things are owed to them. Guess what type of an adult they end up being.
People either don't have, or don't make time to be an example of what type of person to be.
When my wife was pregnant, she quit work and has been a stay at home mom since. It makes things tighter at times, but it's worth it. It also helps that I was 40 when my daughter was born, so in a little better place financially than when I was 20 or so when most people have kids.
As for discipline, my daughter knows what it is and as a result she is polite, and it's fairly rare that she needs discipline. Now, since she's only four there is plenty of chance for other bratty kids to be a bad influence on her but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Originally Posted by gstewartsomebody closed the door on respect years ago. now it's all about me, me, me!!
does respect begin at home with parental discipline?
Bingo! Everyone is selfish when it comes to strangers.
And yes people live what they learn,everyone is a product of their parenting or lack thereof.
This guy tried to pass on the right where there was only a parking lane.
He hit the back of one of my trucks.Man he must have been moving!(30mph limit)Here's my truck...
Originally Posted by 68TriShieldBingo! Everyone is selfish when it comes to strangers.
And yes people live what they learn,everyone is a product of their parenting or lack thereof.
This guy tried to pass on the right where there was only a parking lane.
He hit the back of one of my trucks.Man he must have been moving!(30mph limit)Here's my truck...probably had a cell phone stuck to his ear as well.
That's him with the suitcase,I think he was late for a plane
I'll bet he missed his flight!
Last Sunday morning I took my 16 year old daughter who has her learners permit out for a drive for some practice. She drives very well but is very cautious and still needs some time behind the wheel. Her confidence has been growing and we were just talking about her progress when we came up to the entrance of our neighborhood. She put on her directional entered the left turning lane and came to a stop as there are two lanes of oncoming traffic to cross. There were a few cars about a 1/4 mile away in the oncoming lane and a seasoned driver would have made the turn easily however being cautious she wanted to wait until the lane was completely clear. All of a sudden a car pulled up behind us and leans on the horn. It startled my daughter, she panics and almost guns it in front of the oncoming traffic. They keep honking as we make the turn and then proceed to ride our bumper through the neighborhood which continues to panic her and she is now focused on the rear view mirror instead of in front of her. I tell her to pull over and let them pass, as I look over assuming it is some young punk I find it is a family in an SUV and the woman in the passenger side is shaking her hands at us.
Now I lose it, (I know, not the greatest move with her in the car but the fact that they fractured her confidence that we had been working on really pissed me off) especially that it is likely one of my own neighbors. I tell her to trade places and I take the wheel, I catch up to them just as they are entering their garage and I pull up in front, it was a family with a few pre teens unloading and they appear that they are coming from church. As the husband gets out I ask what him what the hell his problem is as my daughter is 16 and on a permit, was there really that much of a rush to get home. He immidiately says " hey, it wasn't me it was my wife". She comes around the passenger side and says "you took to long to make the turn and how was I to know that she was on a permit". I said maybe if you just excersised a little patience and consideration it would not matter who was at the wheel. I asked her how she would feel if her kid was in that position and she says screw you and storms in the house.
With the husband still standing there like the pussy he was I said, man, you have more problems than I could ever imagine married to a nutjob like her and with you two as role models for your kids I'm sure the world will be a better place. I saw him the next day at the pool, he wouldn't even look at me. Although my daughter was a bit embarrassed we used it as a lesson not to panic in driving situations and by the end of the day she was proud of how I handled it. Not sure if I did the right thing but but I guess it was better than kicking his / her ass which is what I really wanted to do.
Sorry for the long post but your post brought this all back to me.
Sorry, don't think it has changed that much. I still find a lot of great people. They outnumber the jerks, but the jerks of the world will always be with us.
As far as kids in schools, I have been teaching for 35 years and enjoy the kids I have today just as much as those from the 1st year. |
Post at 2011-4-22 07:13
| This Author's Posts Only
