Do you think people are more unreasonable than they used to be?

nicktay2605

nicktay2605

nicktay2605

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Basically, as the thread title says. I was in a cafe/bistro type place earlier today for some lunch. It was very busy, with pretty much every table occupied and the staff looked hurried and stressed. Upon joining the queue I could hear one of the servers at the tills telling customers that there was at least a half hour wait for food, possibly more. Fair enough I thought, they are at least telling us before we order and it was the middle of lunch service on a busy, wet Saturday, so it was hardly a surprise.

However, it seems that to a lot of the people in the queue ahead of me it was a surprise, and many of them seemed to consider it unacceptable. At least one couple walked out with a grumpy look on their faces and I heard one of the staff saying that she'd had several people roll their eyes at her and she didn't think it was very polite. I felt sorry for the poor staff, they were all being very friendly and clearly trying their best to appease people and make sure everything was brought out as fast as it could be under the circumstances.

Is it just me or are people more impatient, rude and unreasonable than they used to be?
 
Yes, people expect everything at a bottom price delivered yesterday.

If you don't offer a 5* bend over for the customer service then they know they can screw you over online with reviews.

Customers are starting to expect impeccable service to you within their timeframe, people have become impatient in general and spoilt for choice. It all goes hand in hand. Just like back in the day you'd trip over in a shop, dust yourself off and call yourself daft. Now people look to blame and get some money.
 
I think you can blame the current lifestyle, the internet, technology etc, it has changed people's expectations. They want everything fast and whenever they want it. Same on the roads, people are always in such a rush to get where they are going.

Something to be said for our parents generation where life was just generally slower, and dare i say it, probably a happier time.

One reason I love yurting, disappear for a week into the country, no electricity, no internet. Life slows right down. :)
 
The Internet doesn't help. I mean look on here. Suddenly everyone is an expert on all subjects, so when something goes against their expectations then it's an outrage because surely they can't be wrong!
 
People in general are ignorant a holes and I blame it all on the fact that you can no longer physically punish people for being rude, if the law allowed you to punch rude people in the face things would be different.
 
We get people like this at work when we tell them they can't have their bike right then as it comes boxed and we need to build it, the amount of people that get moody, i'm like, you want your bike? Go build it yourself..

Working in retail and we get really busy so i understand how they feel. If the staff are nice and polite to me, I have no problem waiting but if they are rude, like in the garage over the road, well screw them!

People expect to much.
 
Dano said:
People in general are ignorant a holes and I blame it all on the fact that you can no longer physically punish people for being rude, if the law allowed you to punch rude people in the face things would be different.
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When could you ever physically punish people for being rude and get away with it? Manners are subjective, it would need to go through a court.
 
I think they simply took the information, decided they weren't willing to hang around that long and left to get on with their day. The staff told the people queuing this to prevent irate customers later on. Nothing of note happened, they weren't being unreasonable to be a little disappointed at the potential delay.
 
The customer is "always" right...

I was replacing an EPOS unit last week in a retail unit. I was practically neck deep in cable and till, also a "till closed" sign on the counter. A middle aged woman approaches..

Her - can you tell me if you sell xzy.
Me - really sorry I don't work here, I'm just replaci..
Her (cutting me off) - all I want to know is of you sell xyz.
Me - sorry I don't know, I don't work here. I'm just replacing a till. If you speak to the person just over there..
Her - *tut* *rollseyes* *walks away*

I couldn't work with the public.
 
The problem with people is that they are dreadful. I'd normally apply a limiter on that kind of statement but I don't think it's needed in this case - we are all dreadful.

We're entitled, we're demanding, we're vocal about things we don't like and, worse, we have several platforms that allow us - almost encourage us - to share our poorly thought out brain farts.

We spout and shout about how unfair a Thing is but we do nothing to make it better, nothing. Why bother when it's easier and cheaper to just share your idiocy and lethargy with people just like you on the internet?

The "here is my opinion, listen to it" mentality, particularly amongst people like us, is abhorrent and yes I'm aware of the hilarious irony there. Just because you are somehow capable of expressing your views - which will be awful - doesn't mean we should have to tolerate them, or even listen to them to find if they should be tolerated.

So yes, we are unreasonable. Every single one of us and especially me and you.
 
Everybody wants everything and they want it yesterday. I think that just about sums up most people. I suspect it's a by-product of our on-demand society. Created first by Television and then fuelled and enhanced by the Internet and mobile technology. I think most people have an inflated sense of self importance.
 
Halfmad said:
I think they simply took the information, decided they weren't willing to hang around that long and left to get on with their day. The staff told the people queuing this to prevent irate customers later on. Nothing of note happened, they weren't being unreasonable to be a little disappointed at the potential delay.
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You're probably right, though things like rolling your eyes at someone is, in my opinion, rude and disrespectful. I used to work in one of the 'posh' supermarkets and we got some customers who could be very rude and dismissive, presumably because we were young and they thought they were better than us. I think manners are important and it doesn't cost anything to be polite.

My experience today isn't the only example of this sort of thing recently so I was curious whether it was just me that thought people were getting less patient and polite or whether it's noticeable to others too.
 
Yep, I think a lot of people have got used to the 'right here, right now' culture. I think thats been brought (bought?) on by technology, i.e everything is faster, smarter and tends to cut out human contact wherever possible.

There definitely seems to be more of an I am a consumer therefore I am right attitude, I haven't worked in the service industry for about 12 years now but I still notice the difference today.

When I working in a supermarket in the late 90's early 2000's people werent really bothered about being in a rush that much, aside from the usual pop in customers for a pint of milk and stuff. People had put aside that portion of their day for shopping, they weren't taking their time over it but it was done when it was done. That used to be the norm.

Now I'm a person that hates having to shop around other people, I'm quite happy to take my time and rarely in a rush but hate having other people either in front of me, or blocking the stuff I'm trying to get to.

So decided to go shopping today at 12 just to get it out the way, walked in at the same time as a woman with 3 small kids, by the time I had done one reasonably paced single mans shop she had filled an entire big trolley with varied goods, I have literally no idea how she did it that fast, it was unbelievable watching the rush she was in.

Also reference the OP, has anyone else noticed the speed at which your groceries get launched at you at the checkout these days?
 
Boycey0211 said:
Also reference the OP, has anyone else noticed the speed at which your groceries get launched at you at the checkout these days?
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I like to organise my shopping in the bags, like i'm sure most do, although I do see some people throw it into bags. And I was sorting it out so nothing was getting crushed etc, looked up and I had a whole bay of food around me all mixed up as they push it down. I put it on the belt in order to help me out when I come to bag it all. Calm down!!
 
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