The Arrogance of People

English people are generally stereotyped as being rude, ignorant and arrogant. I couldn’t agree more.

Anyone remember those sign posts of the late eighties / early nineties? They would be found in public areas; a cartoon of a face (for some reason, orange) with a speech bubble saying, Mrs Baggit says please pick up your litter.

I really feel that they should bring them back, but with an extended family. Mr Manners says please mind your p’s and q’s. Or, perhaps along the lines of Miss Arrogance says slam the door in someone’s face as you walk through it. Or maybe, Mr Self-Importance says walk into people instead of saying ‘excuse me.’

Sadly, the latter examples would be the ones people pay heed to.

I find it incredibly frustrating the sheer rudeness and arrogance of people today. Perhaps I am in the minority, but I hold the door open for people. I pick things up for people and hand it back to them if they’re laden down with bags. I have been known to help a lady carry her pram down a flight of steps. With the exception of the lady with a baby (who was lovely), I very rarely get thanked.

Now, I know like the term you shouldn’t give to receive, you probably shouldn’t help to be thanked. However, it’s this type of attitude that puts people off helping.

We whine about how nobody gives up a seat for a pregnant lady or an old person anymore. We whinge that people let doors shut in our faces. I’m not saying it’s right, but perhaps once upon a time, these people were polite and became jaded through the lack of thanks. Not saying thank you is just as rude as not offering in the first place.

So, next time someone helps you, regardless of how small, say thank you! It doesn’t cost a penny and you may prevent that helpful person from becoming jaded. And what a harmonic world it would be then, eh?