Ugly Americans - What to Do

[whistlepig]

Silence doesn't mean consent. As far as I am concerned I have more going on in my life than the need to straighten out some folks at a grocery store or a theater. I don't consider this as being cowardly. I just consider it as a trip to the grocery store or theater. If I can't go into grocery store or theater without coming home upset that would be the day that I should never go to these places again.

 

[Beltzington]

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

Rant concluded, we all need to pick our battles. Always enjoy this forums diversity. Best Regards!

 

[whistlepig]

And there is the silent majority. They are still here. Of all, our government knows this better than anyone.

 

[dave1949]

Silence doesn't mean consent. As far as I am concerned I have more going on in my life than the need to straighten out some folks at a grocery store or a theater. I don't consider this as being cowardly. I just consider it as a trip to the grocery store or theater. If I can't go into grocery store or theater without coming home upset that would be the day that I should never go to these places again.

Exactly. I used to be more bothered by inconsiderate people (well before PC was a concept) and my wife would ask me if I thought I was going to fix everyone and everything.

 

[CurlyDave]

... Today I needed some motor oil and Wally-World seemed the obvious choice, my mistake...

In my little town, Wally World is the lowest price in dollars for a lot of things, but you pay extra in the form of extra time, inconvenience, and crowds.

If you want to avoid this go to an auto parts store. You might pay a buck or two more but you will avoid all that other stuff which raises your blood pressure...

Even if Wally's price on the shelf is lower, going to a different store might be a much better deal.

 

[ultrarunner]

In my little town, Wally World is the lowest price in dollars for a lot of things, but you pay extra in the form of extra time, inconvenience, and crowds.

If you want to avoid this go to an auto parts store. You might pay a buck or two more but you will avoid all that other stuff which raises your blood pressure...

Even if the price on the shelf is lower, going to a different store might be a much better deal.

In the last year I'm loosing or lost some of my favorite places to shop... the old Hardware Store going back to 1948 is just about done... even the Orchard Supply and my Car Quest Auto are going dark...

Nothing more personable than to call a store and have the person on the other end of the phone actually know who you are...

One comment on the cars... could just be living in the Bay Area... more than a few tend to view cars with disdain and will go out of their way to show it...

 

[Gunny]

I think a lot of these rudeness issues evolve more and more as we get more and more into the entitlement era. These people have rights and they're going to exercise their rights to do whatever whenever and wherever they want to. Too many people today seem to forget that their 'rights' often infringe upon the rights of others, but they don't care, because 'their' right supersedes all other rights.
They want to run into the store and get just a few items and all the parking spaces are filled except for three handicapped slots. Their time is more valuable to them (and they're lazier) , so what's going to hurt, after all, they're not taking up all the handicapped spots, there are still two open, just in case, so they're not hurting anything. If they want to block an aisle to chew the fat with their cousin, well, they've got a right to talk with their cousin, and you can always move over an aisle, then come back down to get what you want, they're not really hurting anything, so who cares?
If they need to go to the store and they're still wearing their PJs, who cares, they've got a right to go to the store and get what they want, you don't have a right that says they need to at least put some decent clothing on first, so they're exercising a right and you have no rights to stop it, or even dislike it. Their rights are always more of a right than yours. If they want to eat in a restaurant with their hat on, well, there's no law that says they can't, and they have a right to wear a hat and a right to eat, so what's to stop them?
They could care less for what you or others think of them, they're exercising their rights and you're just expressing your opinion. Which is more important, a right or an opinion? To them, their rights are the most important thing to protect, to others like us, courtesy, consideration of others and politeness mean something.

When I was in law enforcement, I got so tired of hearing that kind of stuff. It seemed that almost every time you went on a non emergency call, at some point during the conversation, someone, or two, or three would remind me that they had a right to do this or that, so what was the problem?

 

[bigblock]

Miserable? Nope. I just don't go anywhere. I've been known to stay on the farms and not leave for close to a week at a time.

I "hang out" with my dogs. They have better manners than most people.

I'm with you. I go to town only when absolutely necessary and get out of town as soon as possible. There are still good people there but they seem to be sadly outnumbered. Common courtesy really isn't very common anymore. My dog is better behaved too. Maybe we're just too old and our time is past. It seems like "the good old days" really were better.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Sometimes I find myself driving under the speed limit holding others up.Then I adjust my speed. I've been known to stand in the middle of the aisle in a trance trying to get a panoramic view of everthing. But I move out of the way. Im sure there are other unthoughtful things I do that pisses people off. So when I have to go out and run into rude people I try to think it's just their day and not mine.

 

[scott_vt]

Park out further in the lot and take a walk. Its good for you. Treat the outing like going to the freak show at the circus and just observe what you observe. Pointing out bad behavior to people these days is a good way to get badly hurt. Move to a smaller community in a more rural area if possible. I try to avoid Walmart and most other large stores, malls, shopping centers, as much as possible just because I don't like to deal with masses of people. If you have to go to Walmart, go very early in the morning. It is actually quite pleasant at 6:00am, as there are very few people there. Pointing out bad behavior to people these days is a good way to get badly hurt. Many times grumpy folks will smile and say hello back... or they'll scream "WHAT YOU LOOKING AT?!!" and beat the snot out of you. Take a chance. :laughing:

Good Mornin MossRoad,
That was a great post !

"Treat the outing like going to a freak show", I do just that, its my way of findig humor in the outing, boys with their briches half way down their butt... baseball caps turned sideways with combs hangin out the side... I mean Im sure you have all seen the humurous Walmartian e-mails ! That stuff doesnt bother me nearly as much as pure rudeness of some people, its hard to ignoe that JMO !

" Pointing out bad behavior to people these days is a good way to get badly hurt", youve got that right, absolutely avoid any confrontation at any cost !


"Many times grumpy folks will smile and say hello back", that does work sometimes, and not a bad idea, a smile and kind word can go a long way...

Bottom line try and keep your humor through the whole thing, when youve lost that, youve lost..... !