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Rude vs. Polite

Posted by millieriver • 9/04/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: people atiquette civility rude politeness kind

Rude vs. Polite?
Have you ever noticed that when it's your own mess, you don't mind it so much? But when the mess belongs to someone else, it rubs us the wrong way? Whether it's a dirty glass on counter top or driving etiquette; it's seems worse when someone else is doing the do. What if our initial thought that angers us isn't right?

I was driving down to San Diego and I thought about how people get so upset on the road (and no, I wasn't driving madly). It was spurred by a recent conversation I had on the matter of personal pet peeves and an Oprah show I recently watch entitled "how rude are you". Let me ask you, do you get upset when you signal to change lanes, and the car next to you automatically speeds up? If not, that's cool, but if so, why do you get upset? Do you get upset because you think that he/she speeds up for pure selfish reasons and doesn't want you to get in front of him/her? Could be...

That answer may be true; yes they could be selfish but could it also be that the person is trying to be polite by giving you space behind him/her? It's similar to when someone opens the door for you or when you are crossing the street and a car is waiting for you to cross. You know that someone is waiting for you so you speed up, or walk a little faster because someone is holding the door open or waiting for you to cross the street.

My point is, maybe that person isn't as rude as we think they are. I can't tell you the answer because I don't know what the other person is thinking. But I can tell you that I won't let it ruin my driving experience...anymore anyways.

What are your thoughts?

User Comments

9/04/09

HollytheHousewife

Oh that is SOOOOOO true! Ted is an agressive driver. Literally it is cussing and horn blowing every single time I get in the car with him. It drives me crrrrrazzzzy
There is no reason to let people u will never see again have such control over you.

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1. 9/04/09
  
  millieriver
  
  Thanks for that Holly! By the way, it's a big turn off for me when my date displays road rage...can I say RED FLAG!
9/04/09

HollytheHousewife

Also the other day I was at the grocery store,and I had just parked and was rolling the windows up and lock the doors. Well this lady parked next to me and she started yellin @ me as I was getting out of the truck.
I was like.....scuse me what?...she went on to say don't throw trash out your window.
I said #1 ya seein things lady
#2 had I thrown something out the window,don't you think its a little more trashy to start a fight in kroger parking lot???DUH...
Littering is bad,but going out of your way to be an ASS is worse. I went on to tell her if you are upset about trash,get up and throw it away your self.....

I don't understand why some people are out there just looking for something to be mad at...

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9/04/09

pandora106

Rude when driving is some one speeding up to pass you then has to turn a block or half away. How is there 1/16 of a sec more important than my second?

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9/04/09

HollytheHousewife

It is rude,but its like why waste time on blowing ur horn or flippin the bird. It doesn't do anything productive for either party.

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9/04/09

HollytheHousewife

There is a big difference from standing up for what's right,or doing something senseless all in the name of 30 seconds of someone doing something rude,and you never see them again

[reply]
1. 9/05/09
  
  millieriver
  
  My "aha" moment with all this is that if we can learn to not get offended/bothered by little things that usually gets under our skin, I'm willing to bet that our life would change for the better.
  
  Rod-if you're reading this...thanks for the "aha" moment. =D
9/05/09

timethief

Let me ask you, do you get upset when you signal to change lanes, and the car next to you automatically speeds up? If not, that's cool, but if so, why do you get upset? Do you get upset because you think that he/she speeds up for pure selfish reasons and doesn't want you to get in front of him/her? Could be...

I don't bother to speculate on what the mindset of drivers affecting such driving behaviors may be because I really don't care. I always drive defensively and I remain calm in these kind of situations.

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