When did people become so rude?

[Captain Jack]

So, I live in this newly developed flat built out of spit and cardboard (rented, thankfully) in a quaint town of Portishead. It's considered a "posh" area and you can see it from the cars, which are generally Binis and VAGs with 60+ plates on them. The area, like all others, has been overbuilt and overpopulated with no road infrastructure improvements. As a result, it's a daily rush-hour 2 mile tail back to get to the M5 on a straight A-road, which would normally take no more than a few minutes.

Anyway, so my flat's development is gated (no idea why) and each one is assigned a single parking space. Clearly, this is a place for the rich, sad loners as no family has less than 2 cars these days, especially in an area like this. Instead of a parking space, I have a garage in a very awkward spot. So awkward, that I have to reverse into it as other parked cars all around you getting in the way. For the past two weeks, one of the spaces was unoccupied, so instead of pissing about with the garage, I used that instead.

Today, however, the owner of space #127 was back. And deary me... what an unpleasant bell-end he was. I apologised for parking there and explained my reasons.

Me: Sorry for parking here. The spot was empty for the past few weeks so I used it instead of my awkward garage.
Bell-end grumbling: It was empty, because I wasn't here. And now I am back.
Me: I can see that and I won't park here again.
Bell-end: Yes, but it's my spot. Why did you park here? I only get one spot - use your own.

I had to leave at this point as I would have decked him. It's rare that I meet rude people but it seems to be on the increase - what's going on here?

Glad I am moving away from this sardine can in a few months.... urgh.

[Ares]

People are incredible sometimes,instead fo accepting apology they have to throw anger at you.
Like this specimen in your story,parking place was free so it is logical for someone to park there,why bitchin about it?
Folks from villages are more polite and civilised in compare to people from the city,ofcourse there are exceptions.

Main thing is that this crazy world is full of stress,speed,crazy job hours etc etc which are driving people nuts.
Dont worry,you done your part,you said you are sorry,that man needs to rethink about his manners.

[Welly]

You are right, everyone is pissed off I think and if you inconvenience their important routine one bit you're dead I wonder if everyone has a kinda e-mail, IPhone, IPad lifestyle and are losing touch with human interaction?

Just yesterday I was filling up with fuel (oh really?) and a shouting match erupted between a woman and a young lad who had jostled for the same pump you should have heard it! she was doing most of the shouting and wouldn't leave it either

Parking spaces always cause trouble, I'm not surprised your 'friend' described it as "his" space where I work I have to park outside people's houses and it's took me 3 years to work out which ones I can or can't park outside there's the 'scratcher' I was warned about (keep well away) and the 'curtain twitcher' who jump straight outside if you park there (under the premise that they're waiting for a delivery or some other sh*t).

[plod]

It's same with driving ain't it

The other day coming around Coventry on A45 I was in first lane in the lorry and the shogun next to me drifted into my lane and I had to swerve and gave him quick pap on the horn
I have no hand gestures just papped to warn him and what do I get back but gesticulated I'm a w**ker
I slammed on brakes and jumped out and surprisingly he was off like a shot
Can't really give chase at 55mph lol

Good point above with Facebook/forums that people are like on there keyboard warriors with no communication skills or the ability to interact with people

And the other day, I dropped the misses off at work, turned round and left to go to my work
Towards the end of road it bends round to the left
As I got there, her works van comes round the corner at speed on my side of road
Again another instance where I had to swerve and slam on brakes
Turns out the prick only works in same office as the wife, and the guy came in slagging me off and reckons if he sees me again he will lay me out
Wife texted to ask if it was me
I said yes
She told me what he said
I told her to give him my number as I'm not violent but pricks like that need twatting as its the only language they understand
Suppose I could of rang up and reported him for dangerous driving in company van
Misses refused as said it would cause her too much grief at work

[plod]

Oh and a few weeks back my parents came round and where we are is designated parking spots also
He parked in one not realising
Next day he tells me when he left someone had bent his wiper arms
Why couldn't the person just leave a message please don't park here on the car?
I managed to get replacements off the bay for £7.99 but not the point that got away cheap
Revenge is dish best served cold!

[steve_earwig]

I must admit I'm getting pretty sick of people coming round corners on the wrong aide of the road here, amongst other questionable driving (I'm actually collecting vids of crap driving but everything looks so far away through the wide angle lens it'll look very petty if I post it all) but I just can't be bothered to get worked up about it anymore, I reckon it's better to take avoidance action, think "tosser" and just get on with your day.

[Welly]

People hooning round corners on the wrong side round your way are probably too pissed to notice you shaking your fist at them

[DaiRees]

I used to be terrible for getting the red mist when driving but I, like Steve, just can't be arsed anymore. I guess you just chill out a bit as you get older. I don't allow myself to get involved in the morning rush hour whacky races, I just think what's the point, the crap on my desk will still be there whatever time I arrive . I still get wound up by displays of piss poor, aggressive or dangerous driving, particularly when it puts me or my family directly at risk, but my reaction is far less explosive and passes much more quickly.

Paradoxically I do now seem to react much worse if the wife and kids are in the car than I do than I do if I'm on my own. Without wishing to analyse this too much I'd like to think that this is a primal reaction to protect the family, but in reality it's more likely to be "that tosser's not going to take advantage of me in front of witnesses!"

My street is funny for parking, most of the residents are retired couples or singles, so there aren't that many cars any more. 20 years ago everyone had kids of college age still living at home (I was one of those kids), all with cars, so there were cars everywhere and arguments galore . Some of them didn't talk to each for years over parking disputes. Now the neighbours a couple of doors up park both of their cars right outside my house, I don't really care 'cos we're lucky enough to have off-street parking for our fleet, but the old dear next door down used to get really wound up about it, even after she stopped driving and got rid of her car . When my kids are old enough to drive and get their own cars the area out the front will be reclaimed in the name of the Rees clan! but for now, it's all good

[GingerMagic]

I too used to get a little upset at other motorists giving me hand gestures when they are in the wrong, but I have had a driving job now for over 15 years, so now I just think ' just another knob ' and carry on with my day.
I will not let some arse spoil my day, I just forget about it - its not worth it.
I still do see some of the most horrendous driving and near misses pretty much all day, seems indicators are no longer used on cars.
Is facebook to blame, not sure but it does seem people are less understanding and more fiesty when it comes to possesions ( it is nearly impossible to get my lorry round some places as people put rocks and sh*t on their verges to mark there territory! ) but again, not my issue or problem - its theirs and they have to deal with it.
In the meantime I just amble along minding my own business...

[Welly]

I tell you something that me and Mrs Welly have noticed recently; 'senior' male drivers say, over 60?, who ABSOLUTELY ENFORCE their right of way (or what they want as right of way) and then go bananas at you if they need to brake or move slightly .

At the weekend I had one of these old chaps who chose to pull out from behind the cover of some parked cars (I spotted this and waited for him) so as he 'nosed' out I was there, waiting, and in his way bejesus you should have seen the anger on his face .

We live in a jam-packed country and all need to be someplace, a little patience would go a long way.

Before I go, there's one other regular spot I like near me; it's a traffic-calming spot with a chicane in the road and one side has to give way to the other (priority of direction) BUT it is near a mini-roundabout and a bend - the roundabout people have the priority but you can't see them coming until it's too late sooooo you 'go' and make a break for it and then they suddenly come at you all pissed off because they've had to wait a second - everyone knows about it and tries to work around it but some act like idiots because 'they are right' funny thing is the whole lot is no longer needed as it was put there for a School (which since closed)

[Ares]

i agree on that statement that this facebook,chats etc etc are creating zombie people.
People lack basic social skills.

And yes,imagine the inteligence of a person who bend wipers or in any way damage somebody elses car.
Its incredible,..why..isnt more normal just to put a note,or tell the person...

when i park in the city im just waiting for someone to jump out with an axe defending its territory.

[Bailes1992]

Kind of see where the guy is coming from to be honest.
You do have your own space (Allbeit in a garage).

It's like me parking on my next doors neighbours drive because I haven't seen their car for a few days.

I come home the other day and a company called Centre Great were digging up my next doors garden and one of them had parked their vans on my drive. Therefore because I'm a twat I decided to park behind him so he couldn't get out.

About 2 hours later he started knocking the door, so I ignored it. He was banging the door for about 45 mins

Eventually I gave in and answered the door to be greeted with "I've been banging this door for hours, I need to go, move your car". So I told him I'l be out now to move the car. I watched the news for anohter half hour and then moved it

He was also irrate with me. So I told him "Well you shouldn't have parked on my bloody drive then".

[Sonia406]

Parking spaces - yes, always cause trouble.....
We had a neighbour who had a drive suitable for 2 cars and her daughters were always blocking our drive out of pure spite.
Only I kept reporting it to the police and the last time they came out I got into such a state that the lovely police men turned for the door and said, don't worry - this stops, today. He went around, ordered her to move her car, gave her the riot act and issued an on the spot fine. The next time she did it she would of faced court ;)

It all came a little too late as we were due to move only 5 days later BUT still - got the bitch

My daughter, born with a complex cardiac condition meant at any given moment we would have to rush off to the hospital, possibly with me in the back seat doing CPR on her etc etc - so having our drive blocked was NOT something I would stand for - ever

Sorry to hear of your bell end, as you so put it.......

[lozz]

I can understand why people moan about people parking in
There spaces,

But if there's no signs up or road markings there's not a thing they can do about it

[Sonia406]

I can understand why people moan about people parking in
There spaces,

But if there's no signs up or road markings there's not a thing they can do about it

very, very true