He revived the engine loudly, obviously impatient for us to move out of the way, and Constance who is only new to road "etiquette" pulled at her lead and backtracked into the road
The driver edged forward and I called out "just hang on a minute will you"
But he didn't stop
I had a glimpse of an office type businessman who mouthed " get out of the fucking way!" as he flicked the "V's" at me, and the car sped past missing Constance by a hairs breath
I wish I had a bag of shit on me, as I would have flung it at the car without a second thought.....but it was all too late
and as the Ford Ka, sped off , all I could think was why are so many people in this modern age so bloody angry!!!!?
Anger seems a modern epidemic doesn't it?
You see it everywhere:-, in the village,, on the roads, on the phone ( anyone ring a call centre recently?) and on the net! ...........everyone seems so bloody angry
I hate bad manners- Being angry is being bad mannered when anger is not controlled
The two seem to go together!
Living in the country I think that good manners very much come to the fore
You stop if a horse rider approaches your car
You stop if you see cows in the road
You say "good morning to someone who passes you in the street"
and you give way if a 4 x 4 "out guns you in a country lane!
But still I see people angry, aggressive and difficult!
I would like to think that I am assertive but not aggressive... but I know I can give as good as I get and it does trouble me slightly that although I am in many ways mellowing with age, I just cannot put up with the unjust and the wrong.....
hummm perhaps it is me that is getting angrier?....that's worrying
who knows
I am Working all over this weekend on nights so here's hoping everyone has a nice and peaceful weekend?
I couldn't agree more John.
ReplyDeleteYou should have taken a note of his registration plate and found a way to report him to a clamping service! He would have deserved it!
I have an extremely low tolerance for bad manners, there really is no excuse other than plain ignorance.
ReplyDeleteThe 'South' prides itself on genteelism and as a whole folks in these parts are very polite. Whenever I experience rudeness it always catches me off-guard since it's truly NOT the norm.
I remember the England when people had good manners most all of the time, rudeness was the minority, not so much any longer sadly.
Have yourself a wonderful Valentine's weekend !
~Jo
Hi John
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with you more, and living in a town like Brighton here on the south coast aggression seems to be the norm.
We have decided the only way to avoid this is not to go out and of course that is not really an option. We have to shop and we like the country side.
I am at a loss to understand why people are like it but I think greed and money are probably behind it some where, as in all things.
Lets hope it was a one of and have a good weekend.
Briony
John
ReplyDeleteDon't get me on my soap box about this one!
When I drive to work and park and walk over to the hospital I see lots of angry people - racing you through the barriers to get a parking space and this is the caring progession :(
My response with road rage Is to wave and smile! I feel some folks live in a Fast food culture demanding everything immediately with little or no thought for anyone else and I for one can't be arsed with it
Jane
I think there are a lot of reasons people are more angry. And I think it is because we have gotten away from a simpler life.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think our diet (for those of us who can't grow our own or buy from a small farmer) is greatly responsible for a lot of it.
But who truly knows, sadly.
I hope you all can have a good weekend, even though you're working, John. ♥
He can't have been a very successful businessman if he was driving a Ford Ka, John, so you can console yourself with that (as well as carrying a bag of shit for the next time).
ReplyDeleteArsehole - I hope he has a crash ( but not involving anyone else ) Being in the car with Jess- a recently new driver, we are very aware of the gits out there lots & lots of them .
ReplyDelete( Went out lat night none of the men gave each other a peck ! )
Anger does seem to be on the increase, but so is pressure and people react with anger when they feel helpless.
ReplyDeleteThis guy could have just been chewed by his boss and told if he was not there in x minutes, he was fired...that is no excuse for his anger but it could be a reason.
I, too, have manners embedded...even when I am being chewed I try to bring them forward. Sometimes, it's not so easy but so far, I have slapped no one nor tried to run over a dog.
Have a great weekend, carry your goodness with you.
We never know the rest of the story do we John. No excuse for him behaving so rudely (and dangerously) though, but it can help lessen one's reaction to it when you consider that the driver just might be having a really bad day.
ReplyDeleteThe spoons arrived John...they are gorgeous...thank you so much.
ah there is no excuse for that man to get close to constance like that. he must be very unhappy. you are right, there is an anger epidemic. i have no patience for ill mannered people. jill
ReplyDeleteWell what a rude person! Yes, anger and rudeness seems to be more common nowadays.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are so right! That is one of the many reasons to live in the country ,at least there are less angry folks out here! People have no manners today at all! The kids are sometimes the worst,come one folks teach your kids how to be decent people!
ReplyDeleteHa, I live right outside Washington DC. I see "angry" people with bad manners all the time! That's just how they are. I think many people today are all about themselves, they don't even consider others. I see it online all the time - it's the "me me me" generation. There's just no consideration. At least that's my two cents. Who knows...
ReplyDeleteDon't be angry. It's not worth it. When I get uptight I spend time with my animals. 5 minutes with my chickens will make anyone slow down and smile!
Have a nice weekend, John!
~Lynn
I have found that anger comes in two forms.....passive and overt aggressive.
ReplyDeleteMy unproven theory is that people today are lead to believe and buy into the idea that they HAVE to be in a rush to get whatever they are doing done, so that they can move on to the next thing. Kids are now being 'programmed' into this with all of the new gadgets that accelerate them into a world where there is no slowing down and INSTANT gratification. SO, you think people are angry now, just wait.....
So some people react immediately like that fellow in the car John, and others (myself included) react later by themselves.
I sort of agree with LindaG, I think we are poisoning our bodies with all the junk in our foods. I also think we are poisoning our minds with the movies we watch and the games we play. I think if people (as a whole) were eating good foods and going to bed at night instead of staying up pa
ReplyDeletelaying some game of doom, we would all feel better.
Certainly this fellow was rude, but who knows what was behind his need for speed? Pregnant wife, sick father, hurt child, house on fire....... or maybe he was just a jerk.
Having lived in Los Angeles for over 30 years, I had assumed people would be kinder, gentler, and most certainly driving slower and with more consideration here in a small town. Not so. That the same applies to a village in the UK is even more of a surprise. Don't work too hard and thanks for the good weekend wishes. -- Inger
ReplyDeleteThere is no excuse for acting out anger like that man did. But, there is so much stress and frustration in the world today, that I think we're all on edge, most of the time. We want too much, we've been brought up to think that we have to have too much. And, when we find, as we always do, that we can't have everything we want, we get angry. Somehow, we have to get away from all of this self-consciousness that has become the norm, and become more aware of the wants and needs of those around us.
ReplyDeleteJohn I am glad you did not have a bag of poo handy because it would have been ugly. You were just unfortunate to encounter a jerk. They are everywhere. Here, in order to access safer grounds, I must walk my 4 dogs along a one way road for about the scariest 5 minutes ever. We hug the side of the road but there are always the biggest jerks ever going 60 MPH or better on a 45 MPH one way road. An icy one at times. My favorites are the speeding pickups driven by teens AND the parents driving their little angels home from the school which is along this same road. I say a prayer every time. So far so good.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you. No one seems very happy these days.
John, it sure is worrisome. I have had the exact same thoughts. I just want to live a simpler, peaceful life and expect the same from others. No one seems to have any consideration for anyone else these days. I hope you'll follow my blog as I try to live a simpler life. That's what I'm trying to blog about and maybe people will read it and something will sink in.
ReplyDeletehttp://tryingtoliveasimplerlife.blogspot.com/
I am not a morning person, as mentioned in a comment on an earlier post, and i suspect i would have flung *something* if i had not had poo handy.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this Ford KA driver awoke late and was rushing to make up for lost time and had to skip his morning coffee to boot.
If not, then he's simply a jerk and deserves a good tanning to his backside.
I'd probably want to note his tag number, too, and call to complain. After all, you DID acknowledge him and were doing your best to corral your dogs safely away.
Unlike the idiot bicyclists i often encounter who seem to think THEY OWN the road and refuse to yield. Which makes it hard for me, the occasional bicyclist who WILL yield, but i get the dirty end of the stick from drivers who've had too many of the other kind and run me off the road. :0(
I'm so glad Constance wasn't hurt. I think if he'd have touched one hair of hers, he would've been in hospital and especially late for work, whilst you would've been early!
I hope the rest of your weekend is devoid of such anger.
megan
>Ford Ka
ReplyDeleteNot a businessman. Probably belongs to his spouse.
Or gay son.
>I would like to think that I am assertive
Whaaaat?
>perhaps it is me that is getting angrier?
Yep, reckon that's it.
As you know, I'm the expert on staying cool and never losing my temper. If I can offer any advice, I'd be pleased to help
LOL
Now get to bloody work.
Nx
John I enjoy following your blog posts and like what you write even if I don't very often comment. I totally agree with everything that you're saying. I hate rude aggressive behaviour and arrogant malicious spiteful speech wherever it comes from.
ReplyDeleteI agree John. Living in a small country town back in South Africa and in a MINUTE mining settlement here in East Africa, I only subscribe to good manners. Showing them and accepting (expecting) them in return. Good on you for not losing your cool. You're a great gentle guy. You enjoy your weekend too. Blessings, Jo
ReplyDelete"He can't have been a very successful businessman if he was driving a Ford Ka"
ReplyDeleteI love Tom! :-)
"...There is nothing more galling to angry people than the coolness of those on whom they wish to vent their spleen. ..." ~Alexandre Dumas
ReplyDeleteJust remember, John, you do not have to attend to every angry interaction you are invited to - save your ire for the one you want to go to! LOL!
Don't be outraged, be outrageous.
ReplyDeleteJohn, do what I'd do... mentally lock the guy in a small unvented room with Constance, right after you've fed her an entire spicy pepperoni and anchovie pizza. hehehehe. (passive agressive? who, me?!)
ReplyDeleteThe world is full of rude people, and some days it is tempting to respond in kind. I really try not to, although I will occasionally bury them in sarcasm delivered with an angelic smile. As I used to remind my ex, the red hair is a warning beacon...
When I am forced to drive into town (Dallas) I am always amazed at how other drivers feel the need to force their thoughts on my driving. If I don't turn right on red fast enough to suit them its honk, honk, flip you off ... some go so far as to drive by you then and yell at you from their car as they pass... I avoid going into Dallas if at all possible.
ReplyDeleteI also find it amazing how rude younger people are these days, its a world of me, me, me. Manners? I think they stopped teaching those all together!
Just today honeyman and I were shopping, the store was packed and more than once honeyman and I just rolled our eyes at each other as parents just let their kids be rude and never once corrected them. No wonder they grow up to be rude teenagers and then rude adults! Even basic common courtesy... nope nothing is ever said.
We live in a hurried world of hurried people, who have forgotten how to use their manners or were never taught any to begin with!
A bad day or not does not in anyway make it okay to nearly run over a dog or human! If your that upset don't get in the car and drive!
Sadly, the acts of kindness really shine now a days because I think anger, tension, and misery is the main thing seen coming through most folks. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteI see more pissed off people than happy ones anymore and I really don't think they have a clue why they're so pissed off.
Maybe they should all have a chicken or two - it would help them smile!
Boy, they wouldn't get by with that in the mountains. I once missed a telephone interview because I had to wait for 15 minutes for a herd of elk to cross the road!
ReplyDelete