Thread: The loss of common courtesy?

Originally Posted by urleebird

I do not allow rude people to go unchallenged. One of my pet peeves is holding a door open for someone and they walk past like you aren't even there. Loudly, I always say to the back of their head, "HEY, NO PROBLEM... YOU'RE WELCOME".

I had a guy do that to me yesterday. He held the door for me at the Post Office. I've been really sick for the past 2 weeks so I just nodded and said thanks, quietly because talking puts me in coughing fits. After he yelled out loud and everyone was looking at us I turned around, coughed all over him as I told him loudly "I nodded and SAID thanks quietly because I didn't want to give you my cold!". He was backing away pretty fast

Sorry Bill, I know you're a pretty good guy, I just had to share my experience on here. I thought it was funny as heck .

When I was in phoenix I had some Lady cut me off on the freeway, follow me on my exit, follow me into a mall parking lot and do donuts with me as I was trying to shake the crazy *#@%^. I called the cops and flagged mall security and she and her friend sat there until the cops showed up then tried to spin that I was being rude to them. When mall security told me they could get the video from rooftop cameras for me the woman suddenly had to leave for an appointment and was very apologetic for "any misunderstanding".

I think it's the day and age we live in. Not just California

Originally Posted by RichZ

...Good manners and concern for others are taught by parents and society...

Words of wisdom right there. I get to hear from my wife about all the little brats she has to put up with at her teaching job. She teaches 8th grade language arts and these kids shove each other in the halls, talk back to their teachers, sexually harass the girls (in the case of boys) and call it flirting, and yell at each other across the room in the middle of class while my wife is talking. I could never make it as a teacher because I would have thrown one of these kids through a window within the first week.

Anyway, for the most part I see and meet very polite people here in Portland. People hold the door for each other, they smile and acknowledge other people, say hello, and seem to give a damn as to how you're doing. I had the same experience in Montana when I went to college, so I'm wondering if it's something to do with regional cultures. On the other side of the coin, you see people going to operas and "formal shows" in jeans and a t-shirt so that isn't always a good thing.

Now my wife is telling me about this absolute nonsense called "attachment parenting" where the parent never puts their kid down and coddles them. No discipline, just lots of love. What kind of idiot dreamed up that insanity?

The only thing that often keeps me from blowing things like this out of proportion is the fact that I am most likely carrying a gun and have an added responsibility to be mature and stay out of bad situations that can quickly escalate. It reminds me of the quote "an armed society is a polite society". I remember the first time my father took me to a gun range and mentioned that this is probably the only place where I won't hear people arguing.

Alright, here's one:

As I was crossing a busy 'T' intersection in Toronto a lady was appoaching and preparing for her right turn. She did to things wrong. 1. Rolling Stop. 2. Didn't look right long enough to see me. As a result she plowed right into me with the side of her car. I managed to keep myself from sliding under by hammering my hand against her windshield. That's when she noticed me and jammed on the breaks. I've been under a car before and it was none too much fun that time. I don't want to repeat the experience. Needless to say I was livid. She managed to come to a halt a few metres away as I was walking after her. She even rolled down her passenger side window to engage with me in a less physical manner. Now I would have been perfectly within my right to tear a strip out of this woman. After all she hit me with her car (thankfully unhurt) but almost succeeded in running over me. Instead of screaming like a madman I simply told her, "You really gotta watch where you're going. Don't be in such a rush 'cuz next time it might not turn out so good". She appologised profusely and went on her way.

By not losing my head, and it was tough not to, she can't blame me for simply being an arrogant prick. She was unencumbered by an irrational emotional response and free to confront her potentially tragic error honestly. I hope she has taken that experience to heart. It's a technique I developed as an urban cyclist. The last thing we need is another motorist who feels justified in endangering "@$$hθ|ε" cyclist "taking up the road".

Of course other times I just scream as I'm going by something like, "Pick a lane" or, "Get off the phone"! I guess we can't all be perfect all the time.

X

Originally Posted by mgraepel

"attachment parenting" ... What kind of idiot dreamed up that insanity?

The one proud as heck about their model citizen children.

It people like that driver that keep me driving my lifted F250 pickup instead of getting a nice bmw or lexus, I might not look as stylish or professional, but I am damn safe.

Originally Posted by mgraepel

Words of wisdom right there. I get to hear from my wife about all the little brats she has to put up with at her teaching job. She teaches 8th grade language arts and these kids shove each other in the halls, talk back to their teachers, sexually harass the girls (in the case of boys) and call it flirting, and yell at each other across the room in the middle of class while my wife is talking. I could never make it as a teacher because I would have thrown one of these kids through a window within the first week.

Anyway, for the most part I see and meet very polite people here in Portland. People hold the door for each other, they smile and acknowledge other people, say hello, and seem to give a damn as to how you're doing. I had the same experience in Montana when I went to college, so I'm wondering if it's something to do with regional cultures. On the other side of the coin, you see people going to operas and "formal shows" in jeans and a t-shirt so that isn't always a good thing.

Now my wife is telling me about this absolute nonsense called "attachment parenting" where the parent never puts their kid down and coddles them. No discipline, just lots of love. What kind of idiot dreamed up that insanity?

I agree. Now, the NBA finals...

RT

Its all a symptom of the breakdown of a society. people just care about #1 and are being brought up with an additude of don't take sh*** from anyone. People are just crazy and probably mentally ill also.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

It people like that driver that keep me driving my lifted F250 pickup instead of getting a nice bmw or lexus, I might not look as stylish or professional, but I am damn safe.

I hear 'ya JL. I'd like to get an old 60s pickup and bolt a railroad tie on the front and back as a bumper. I'm used to people driving like idiots here in LA, it was just the sheer gaul of the lady to be so rude. I sure hope this isn't the way society is going but I'm afraid it is.

well guys I read your posts , now i really dont know what age group your in and its none of my business but i have noticed a few things on my travels, which include, the southern states in the good ol'usa, canada, Germany,Holland,Norway,Ireland,wales and of course England.

I come from a small fishing village in the North East of scotland, where people I think are at best good people...we are not near any cities, ( I have to drive at least 20m for a subway, burgerking and a macdonalds...a good thing sometimes)

Anyways my point.
1.Discipline...my house, a hot arse was administered when deserved...now a days in the UK you cant smack a child, what I hate most are these parents who make poor excuses, like oh he cant help it, hes only little and a wee bit bored...as he tears up and destroys everything in sight.Young kids nowadays seem to think they can please them selves and answer to no-one...
my opinion,a hot arse lets you know when youve messed up bad...

2.Morals, nowadays people think they can please themselves and go through life screwing people, there seems to be hardly anyone with any conscience these days.
My wife tells me I try to please too many people but if I say i will do something and i dont i feel guilty, people now just say 'f@@k em', i hate that

3.Manners, good manners cost nothing and since travelling across the pond to the USA and Canada, i noticed that people do have them, people my age refering to elders as Sir and Ma'am a thing not done here in the uk,i LIKE IT BECAUSE IT SHOWS A BIT OF RESPECT...btw there is now direct word for please in Norwegian... but thank you is totally OTT...thank you is Tusen Takk ( Thousand Thank yous')

as an aside friends Of my wifes from New Orleans and NY came over and visited with us for 4 days on a UK tour they were doing before one of them went on active duty on a US Aircraft Carrier as a Surgeon, what rank I dont know, but, they agreed on one thing, from leaving us, people became more rude and unhelpful the further south they went, their timing was unfortunate as in Edinburgh they caught the G8 Demo's and they were in LOndon at the time of the Bus Bombing and subway bombings, then of course Katrina when they returned home.

Well ive said my piece, Im a married 33yo with a 15 month old son...my time is coming....HELP..

REGARDS, SIMON

Originally Posted by JLStorm

The only thing that often keeps me from blowing things like this out of proportion is the fact that I am most likely carrying a gun and have an added responsibility to be mature and stay out of bad situations that can quickly escalate. It reminds me of the quote "an armed society is a polite society". I remember the first time my father took me to a gun range and mentioned that this is probably the only place where I won't hear people arguing.

I agree with you in part. As a formal martial artist, I noticed that people who train in dojos/dojangs are extremely ritualistic and polite with each other. However.......
The problem with a gun society is that there are always deviants and with access to guns they have a greater potential to do damage. Even if the government develops the perfect screening process for gun licensing (yeah, right ) guns can always get stolen and then you have some crazy yahoo or gangbanger shooting at people b/c they looked at him cockeyed or just b/c they're insane.
I enjoyed every time I fired a gun, threw a knife or released an arrow. It's a test of my eye-sight, nerves and concentration. However, I believe that the world would be a better place if guns didn't exist, even in the governments' hands.

As for yelling at kids or beating them up (replying to other posts), that's the worst thing you can do with a kid. I still haven't forgiven my dad or his stepfather for all the beatings I received from them and I'm 26. That way you teach children that using violence is ok and that it's normal to lose control over your emotions. Took me a while to learn different ways of resolving conflicts.Kids can be admonished with a disaproving done of your voice and disciplined without causing them physical pain. That way you're less likely to see them shouting at people on the streets and picking fights.