WARNING: It's getting meaner out there.

[theophilus]

In my experience people are toting a shorter fuse. I know I am. I try to be civil and not let my mouth overrun my brain. I have noticed driving skills are down in my vicinity. I haven't been involved in any fights but I seem to be reading of attacks and killings over some pretty trivial things. My opinion is that the excessive hot weather and the feelings of fear and anger regarding the economy (from all dimensions of the political universe) are resulting in more anger and misbehavior. Have you witnessed any episodes that you feel are a little over the top or extraordinary over the last couple months? What do you think? Are folks more snappy and more easily angered? Are you? Please share and offer advice....

[FSogol]

1. I recommend adult beverages.

:beer:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

16. My ER doc friends would disagree.

See: Thanksgiving day around 7pm.

[piratefish08]

2. piss off!

i mean, yes sir, my fuse is mighty short these days.

[Stuart G]

3. Yes, in this heat, I saw a number of mistakes out there today..nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. As a medic we knew HOT days

led to more violence calls... it just was.

[a kennedy]

5. and I swear our short fuses all started with the remote control.....

Think about it, first the remote, then drive through food vendors, now drive through dry cleaners, and now I've seen people when cars in front of them want to turn right are even passing them.....Turning Right.....at one time I could see veering your car into another lane if the car in front of you was turning left but, turning right.....oh yah, it's gotten terribly meaner out there. :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[theophilus]

8. Many drivers are thinking about things that might distract them. Of course there

are the ones who are using an electronic handheld device, too. The old adage about driving defensively is becoming more and more important, imo.

[hlthe2b]

6. Just got back from a very hot trip to Atlanta.... where, in traffic

I happened to gaze over at a guy chugging down a six-pack--just before he entered the ramp to the interstate. Whew boy.... heat, short fuses, concealed guns, and alcohol. Yup keep your temper and try to let things roll off of you, because you just never know...;)

[LeftofObama]

7. One of things I've noticed over the last couple of years is

the lack of just common civility. What ever happened to people saying "please" and "thank you?"

Also, I've noticed that a lot of stores now don't seem to care as much about customer service. It's almost as if they feel they are doing you a favor by waiting on you instead of being glad to get your business.

Not sure if that's what you're looking for, but just an observation on my part.

[theophilus]

10. Good post. This is all involved. I know of workers who admit to viewing

the customer as "the enemy". Service industry folks pass the stress on to the customer when they can.

[shireen]

14. i use 'thank you' and 'please' all the time, and say it sincerely,

and people look so surprised. LOL!

the good thing is that it cultivates positive relationships -- people are more willing to help, they smile more, if i'm a regular at a store, they remember me and i get great customer service. And vice versa ... i'm more willing to go the extra mile for considerate polite people.

[anarch]

9. some guy kept calling me a "faggot" and wanted to fight me a couple weeks ago

but to be fair I was pretty drunk, so I probably said something stupid that pissed him off. Wasn't drunk enough to take him up on his offer though. He was in a car, and I was walking...I kept wondering if he was going to jump out of his car in the middle of the street and come after me like he was intimating he was about to do, or, like, go park the car first and then come back to fight me. Ridiculous. He appeared to be, like me, an almost middle-aged man, not the middle-school bully he was acting like.

I don't know if this had anything to do with either the weather or the economy though. :shrug:

[Posteritatis]

11. Some people are just assholes too, of course. (nt)

[Warpy]

12. Yes, and it's not confined to drivers

The heat has been relentless and there's been little relief from storms that should be popping up all over this time of year.

I've noticed people getting crazier and crazier both in public and on the net.

I think it's really the weather. If the heat ever breaks and we start getting rain, we might see some return to civility.

In the meantime, I'm spending a lot of time walking backwards, backing away from the crazy. I know if I engage it, I'll be crazy, too.

[shireen]

13. no advice

just do the best you can. that's what i'm trying to do.
:hug:

[CakeGrrl]

15. A couple of things: Drive defensively. Be nice in public interactions when you can.

Don't assume people are paying full attention to their driving.

Half the time I ever take a close look at a driver, they're still holding a phone to their ear (despite the cell phone law in my state).

As for incidents outside the car, I just always keep a pretty low profile - mind my own beeswax, do whatever I'm doing.

And take a second to be nice to service workers (restaurants, theaters, pet groomers and the like) if they're doing a good job, or during any public transaction. If they say "Thanks", I say "You're welcome" or if they say "Hi", I say hello back and add "How are you?" I notice they deal with quite a bit of rudeness, and that probably spills over into their interactions.

[Mimosa]

17. Great advice.

I do the same.

Taking the few seconds to be nice to people can make the difference between somebody having a good day or a bad one.

[LiberalLoner]

18. +1!!!! n/t

[LiberalArkie]

19. It is soo hot on the parking lots in Little Rock, I am surprised anyone in LR

would have the energy to even raise their voice.

[A Simple Game]

20. Getting meaner out there? It's even getting meaner in here! n/r