I work in a retail pharmacy, so every day. You try telling John Doe that no, he can’t have his Xanax today, he just got a two-week supply 5 days ago, and it’s still a week early on his hydrocodone. I’m sure your doctor DID change your dose, unfortunately you’ll have to bring us a new prescription.
Or the people I know I’ll see tomorrow (Monday) - “What do you mean my prescription is still out of refills?! I gave it to you on THURSDAY!” (::check activity log: “Yeah, at 4 PM on Thursday - your doctor has been gone since then. Call them yourself if you’re so concerned about it.”
We actually had a man cuss at us today for needing his ID to buy Sudafed - he was convinced the government was keeping tabs on him and left without buying any.
I’m sure you’re mostly right about this. But actually, I don’t do the same thing, because I am freaking neurotic about it. I spend more energy and attention keeping out of others’ way than I do getting where I’m going sometimes; especially in great big barns like Home Depot and the grocery store. It really is unbelievable how many people are completely unaware of anybody but themselves.
That being said, I live in Oakland, and I encounter unmistakeable, right-up-in-your-face rudeness: Every. Single. Day. Repeatedly.
Apparently, a lot of people around here, particularly kids and young adults, feel that no, we can’t all just get along.
(hijack)I know this was a move by the legislature to curb meth-making, and I know it certainly isn’t the clerk’s fault, but showing ID and signing a register to get decongestant pisses me off every time. I do try to keep the irritation to myself, though, I’ve never cussed the clerk. Still, I’m pissed. I have called local lawmakers but this particular law is a sacred cow now. (/hijack)
I only meet a few really rude people, but they really stand out by contrast with the perfectly nice considerate people I usually meet.
Probably about twice a month and I live in one of the most urban areas of the world. Maybe my tolerance for rudeness is quite high as twice a month doesn’t seem that often. I meet/encounter people and behaviour that irritates me, to be sure, but I wouldn’t often class it as people being rude so much as thoughtless or ignorant which isn’t the same.
As others have mentioned, there is a lot of inattentiveness, thoughtlessness and carelessness out there, and I often see that, and am able to cope with that fairly easily.
As for downright rudeness, I see that maybe twice a month, tops, and it usually involves driving or cellphones or both.
It used to be daily, when I worked retail. I was a punching bag for the middle class for five years. I’m getting tense just thinking of it.
I don’t see as many jerks since I’ve started working at a campus job. It’s still customer service, but there are very few outright rude people, and the most of them are about as funny as jackasses can be.
“Yeah, at 4 PM on Thursday - your doctor has been gone since then. Call them yourself if you’re so concerned about it.”