4. Write a blog post inspired by the word: friendly.
“Is it me or are people getting really mean??”
Pat told me it was me and that I was getting old and less tolerant of defensive drivers.
He might be right…or maybe I jut entered a portal of the universe where I happen to be running into particularly unfriendly humans. I don’t remember humans always being this unfriendly.
I took Maile to the bookstore the other day and had a tough time pulling out of my parking spot. There were so many cars coming and going behind me that eventually I had to try and back out quickly between cars. It wasn’t quick enough though because the approaching car flashed their lights at us (in the parking lot, it’s not like they had to slam on their brakes) and when I gave a wave of thanks for letting us out, the passenger of the other vehicle waved her middle finger while the driver yelled.
I talked about it in a snap on Snapchat when I got home:
How do people get that angry? And what purpose does it serve to scream at other people? And how do you treat people you actually know in real life when you so easily fly off the handle? And are you drunk? As irritated as I can ever get on the road when someone is slowing me down and I’m in a rush, I can’t imagine screaming and waving my middle finger around at them…particularly when I see a child in the passenger seat.
I want people to be friendly again.
Let me out of this portal!!
John Holton says
There are days that I miss riding the bus everywhere.
Mama Kat says
Yes, at least as a bus rider you’re not the recipient of road rage.
Angie says
I’m sure I’m old and intolerant, but I have to disagree with Pat. People are becoming less friendly, and rudeness is the rule rather than the exception. A few times (once when someone rear-ended me and then took off, once when someone cut me off and nearly caused a multi-car pile-up) I have followed the driver to their next stop (red light, parking lot). I knocked on their windows with a smile on my face and asked if they realized what had just happened. One was a teenager, the other an elderly woman. They were both apologetic and embarrassed. For me it’s just like if I hold the door open for someone and they don’t thank me. I cheerfully say, “You’re welcome!” Most people will actually say, “Oh, sorry. Thank you.” Of course my husband thinks someone’s going to pull a gun on me if I keep playing Manners Police!
Mama Kat says
I appreciate the manners police! I love that you followed them to their next stop and am giggling just thinking of you knocking on the window to follow up with them. We need more people like you on this planet!
madamdreamweaver says
Isn’t practicing road courtesy talked about in driver’s manuals? I’m probably lucky I live in the south and in a small town. There’s still a margin of courtesy and politeness on the road, There are, of course, jerks everywhere.
Mama Kat says
You would hope acting with normal human decency was just something we were all born with. Maybe I need to move to your small town! :)
Lori says
I think people put on their “unreasonably cranky and aggressive” driving hats when they get in the car. I don’t get it either. I appreciate it so much when someone does make a nice gesture, like letting me in, or letting me back out, that it makes me want to do the same for others. Maybe kindness will beget more kindness. Maybe.
Mama Kat says
People in cars are like people on the internet…they suddenly feel anonymous and willing to behave in a way they might not normally behave in person. I don’t appreciate being on the receiving end of it!
Morgan says
People are just mean. I get flipped off because someone ran a stop sign in front of me….so it’s my fault that they made the decision to run the stop sign and flip me off? When DQ got my lunch order wrong after I waited 30 minutes for it (my lunch is 45 minutes) and she said sorry and slammed the drive through door in my face without correcting it? When people come into the office ready to fight with someone instead of having us try to find a solution to whatever issue they are having?
People are mean. That’s why I like my house (even though I have been getting out more besides derby and children’s stuff)
But a lot of people are still nice and loving and like the world.
Mama Kat says
People ARE mean! Whatever happened to good old fashioned thoughtfulness and patience?? I like being home too!
Gigi says
Yes – people are meaner, ruder and less considerate! I witness it in a thousand different ways every day. I figure the only way to combat it is to be that much nicer, sweeter and thoughtful. Maybe it’ll rub off on them, but I doubt it.
Trudy says
Usually I get cranky at crazy drivers and mutter things that I wouldn’t normally say. So I have to reel it in and remind myself that I have no idea why that idiot (ahem, person) pulled out in front of me. They could have received really bad news, or just been called to an emergency or something. But when they wave their middle finger at me in the process, then all benefit of the doubt I try to give goes flying out the window. That’s just rude.