Well, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Because that certainly hasn't been my experience. In fact, in all the years I've lived in this city, it's been quite the opposite. It's actually the older folks that have displayed those traits more often than the young.
Just this past month alone, I've witnessed some people from my generation and the generation before me being discourteous and demanding and impatient and brusque. I've seen them block entire aisles in stores and sigh with annoyance when someone attempts or politely asks to get by. I've seen them jump queues and pretend they don't understand the concept of taking turns. I've seen them interrupt servers and salespeople and cashiers while they are dealing with others because their needs have to be taken care of immediately. I've seen them being total menaces on the road and very unapologetic about it. And many who are working in customer service shouldn't be doing that type of work at all. They are bitter and impatient and annoyed at your very presence. They don't smile or say thank you or make you feel welcome.
On the other hand, many young'uns from the upcoming generations have been polite and considerate and accommodating and exceedingly patient. They have opened doors and apologized for blocking the way. They have been mindful of others and they have offered assistance, even to the bad-tempered, difficult and curmudgeonly older folks. They've smiled while serving and wished people a good day and been wonderfully gracious. They have been enthusiastic and friendly and pleasant conversationalists. They have brightened up my day more often than people my age and older.
Are all older folks cranky and snippy? Absolutely not. Some are as sweet as honey and packed with wisdom. And are all younger people full of sunshine and rainbows? No way. Some are pretty ill-mannered and self-absorbed.
My point is that positive or negative traits are not exclusive to any generation. Each one has its fair share of the good, the bad and the ugly!
What do you think? What has been your experience?
Preach! What a great perspective you've got and its all about being positive in life, and living in happiness. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, my friend. I think no matter the age, we should try to be happy. And treat others with respect.
DeleteI agree with your last thought, Martha. Every generation will have the good, bad, ugly indeed. I haven't noticed that too much with the older folks here, I'll have to keep my eye out and watch behavior more. I know when we lived in Prescott, since it is a retirement community, lots of older people were still working at Wal-Mart and other customer service jobs. All I thought were doing pretty good too with being polite, etc. I've seen people of all ages blocking aisles at the store; and I'm probably guilty of doing it myself :) On the other hand, the younger people have been helpful too here. Will keep my eyes open though :)
ReplyDeletebetty
There is good and bad on both ends, Betty. I think I just get tired of hearing people my age and older complain about the young. I love the young people. There are so many wonderful ones all around.
DeleteIm in my 40's and I find a lot of my generation to be just awful. They are mostly rude, mouthy and complain a lot.
ReplyDeleteLisa
It's really sad, isn't it? I wonder if these people have always been that way.
DeleteI can't imagine Canadians of any age being rude and inconsiderate. They always seem so friendly and easy going.
ReplyDeleteWe have our fair share of grump(oids)!
DeleteIf my ex-husband and I weren't already divorced, I'm sure we'd be getting one. The older he gets, the harsher and more judgmental he gets. My children find it hard to be around him. My brother-in-law is the same way. And it isn't only the men. I've seen a few of my girlfriends become demanding and ungrateful with age. I think that it all comes down to choices. You can choose to continue to work toward empathy, or you can choose to be harsh and rude and demanding.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad, Lisa. I think it must be exhausting being mean and rude and pushy and bitter. What a way to go through life...
DeleteNo surprise to know that you and I agree...While I think every age group has some people with nasty attitudes...I find it less in younger people than in my own age group. (63) I might even say the people that are a bit older than I am. I seem to see a lot of working seniors that seem to be angry that they are still needing to work or they feel that "change" in general hasn't been for the good. I have coffee with a group of seniors every Wednesday and there is a lot of negativity. The good news is though for every one of the nasty ones, there are 2, 3 or more of really kind, fun, sweet ones.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of how people treat wait staff in restaurants, it's nearly always the older ones that are ruder...at least in the lunching out groups that I attend.
Cheryl, I've been paying more and more attention to all this lately because the older generations are constantly complaining about the young. But I haven't had troubles with the young, so it's been bothering me. These younger people have mostly been so courteous and friendly. Sure you get your bad apples, which you find in every age group, but for the most part I haven't had trouble with them. I find the older people complain a lot...about almost everything!
DeleteI find that no matter the age there is good ... there is bad.
ReplyDeleteI think you sum it up very well when you say "My point is that positive or negative traits are not exclusive to any generation. Each one has its fair share of the good, the bad and the ugly!"
All the best Jan
That's right, Jan! Good and bad in every age group.
Deleteyou make a really good point here, we all have to try to understand each other and get along better regardless of age.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Christine!
DeleteYou're absolutely right, Martha! It's always best to assess people on their own merits rather than just assuming they meet a certain stereotype.
ReplyDeleteThat is the best way to go through life! With an open mind...
DeleteYou are right. It's a mix. Being old enough now to have known the same persons old and young, sometimes they feel as if they have earned to say/do as they please. I try to be nice because that is how I want to be treated. Been retired a few years and people still stop me to tell me how much they miss me. I guess I was nice.
ReplyDeleteI bet you were, Gail! And I'm with you on the reason to be nice. I think we should treat people the way we want them to treat us.
DeleteI think every generation has their jerks. Maybe you just ran into an overabundance of "grumpy old people" in your area. I've encountered quite a few rude young people too.
ReplyDeleteagree with you
DeleteI couldn't agree more, Linda. Every generation has its good and bad.
DeleteNice to see you here, shortybear!
DeleteYou're absolutely right. what you're talking about is prejudice. You see one rotten kid and the next thing you know , they're all rotten. Service has deteriorated and I really don't like dealing with call centers.
ReplyDeleteIt is prejudice. We shouldn't assign a label to everyone because of the behaviour of a few. Every generation has its good and bad.
DeleteIt's funny, because just today, as we walked through Walmart, Larry asked me, does it seem that older people just seem to stop in aisles with no regard to anyone around them? I do think people of any age can be rude and inconsiderate, but it seems that some people think their older age entitles them to special service.
ReplyDeleteI have made the same observations, Tina. I wonder if some people just get more and more bitter with age.
DeleteJust like the older generations who blamed things for the "bad youth"
ReplyDeletefirst it was comic books
then it was rock and roll
then it was video games.
Moral of the story: old people love to complain
Not all of them, Adam. Some of us are a little happier :)
DeleteHaven't seen brusque used for awhile.
ReplyDeleteYep, old people are giving me the shits, lol. They block aisles, have a go if you even dare to barely touch them, and jump ahead of people in the line you're in. They think because they're older that they've "earned" the right to do and say what they want forgetting that there are still etiquette rules to being out in public. It's like they've thrown their manners out the window and gone, ah fuck it, and just do what they want regardless. Jesus!
As i get older I stand up to them more and give them the evil eye back or say something. But then I find that even the assistants in the chemist for example, are older than me, but still walk past me and look straight through me and serve someone else. With mum being sick the last seven months I've noticed it more because I just don't have the strength to deal with shit so I've gone on the attack and they just stare at me like I've got the problem.
Yeah, I've got a problem, you old farts are my problem....bahahahaha!
I personally think you've got your fair share in every generation. I just get tired of hearing all the complaining about the younger people. They're not all bad. And all older folks are not all good!
Deletein my country old people mostly act like children ,they want to waste their time in self pity rather then investing their energy in some kind of positive job they like to be free and useless and as result they complain that their kids are not giving them time or attention ,i am proud of my late mom who was unlike her predecessors till the last day of her life she liked to do her personal jobs by her own,she loved gardening and playing with her grand children she was seventy plus when she died few years ago
ReplyDeleteI think when we keep busy we are much happier. Perhaps those older folks need to find something to do, something they enjoy. Your mom sounded like a very happy person.
Deletei usually let so many things slip by but there is SO much friction in san francisco. huge disparity and everyone is on edge, as much as i have somehow tried to stay away from usual jerks, there will be someone impatient cutting you off in something, somewhere - this applies to all ages, within the 7x7miles.... :/ im a clumpsy optimistic but here we are somehow. that fresh ocean salty runs in my dna. breatheeeeee... ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, breathe! Life will always have jerks in it. How we handle them is what matters.
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ReplyDeletepls excuse the mess i seem to have twinkie fingers on this ipad unsure if same comment posted twice.. oy!! feel free to delete if needed lollll
DeleteNo problem, MELI! It happens to the best of us :)
DeleteI'm with you on this, Martha!
ReplyDeleteWhat's age got to do with it anyway?!
That's right, Jim! What's age got to do with it? :)
DeleteI am a grumpy and angry person. But I found myself more mellow with age.
ReplyDeleteI found out that it is not good for my health to get angry with people / life as life goes on and soon we'll expire. Now that's deep.
It's good that you're going in that direction instead of starting off nice and ending up grumpy :)
Delete"My point is that positive or negative traits are not exclusive to any generation. Each one has its fair share of the good, the bad and the ugly!"
ReplyDelete100 percent, agree. It's all generations.
Yuppers. Age makes no difference!
Delete