Evelina and I love Christmas. This time of year we usually plan a lot of activities involving Christmas by visiting McAdenville (Google it), Christmas shopping in the hustle-n-bustle, tree lighting services, parades…you get the point.
This past week we visited the Christmas Village in downtown Charlotte to see the tree lighting and to shop the vendors for special gifts. And of course I did my usual which is watch people and their behaviors. I don’t know why I do this, but I simply cannot escape it.
There were a lot of people and the area for the village was packed, often times leaving little room if any to walk or maneuver from one vendor to another. We spent much of our time saying “excuse me” or “I apologize” as we bumped our way through the crowd. What surprised me (not really) was the fact that we did not get one single return courtesy from another person there and we were bumped into, run into, pushed past many times; too many to count actually.
It is no secret that I really don’t like crowds and maybe I am hypersensitive because of this fact, but I don’t think it should be okay to be discourteous. At one point I positioned myself in an area away from the crowd so I could watch people to see how many apologized or excused themselves when they pushed their way through other people and not one time did anyone say anything. One instance resulted in a lady having half of her hot chocolate spilled and the offender just kept on walking.
It is becoming evident to me that we’ve failed (or are failing). I see this occurrence too often and it seems to be the norm in today’s world. Every time I watch people’s behavior I feel myself becoming so negative. I feel negative writing this post as a matter of fact. But I don’t think this topic should be ignored simply because I don’t want to be negative. It is my belief that the smart device and social media are behind this growing trend.
Society as a whole has become addicted to their devices and because of this addiction the world around us becomes invisible. We forget that this thing around us is a live, breathing, actual place which depends on real, live interactions with real, live people. It is not uncommon for a drug addict to steal from family, the same family that loves them. The addict becomes so focused on his or her next fix that the only thing that matters is getting that fix and everyone else becomes irrelevant.
I tend to be a bit pessimistic and possibly a touch judgmental and I admit to being so.
But I still think we are failing.
Danny
Well said, I have always thought that. People laugh at me at the time because I absolutely refuse to get sucked into this techno world and all its trappings.
In 100 years people will view us giving a young person a smart device like we view how people use to handle mercury. lol
🙂 🙂 🙂
I’m still pleased, when we venture into the village, to see that almost no one is sitting in “The Feed Bag” or wandering the streets with phones in hand. And to bump into someone without saying “Excuse me” or “I’m sorry” would be unthinkable. Perhaps that’s why I hate cities so much and love our tiny town.
Be very thankful for the small town. In larger cities people tend to(not always, but mostly) be self-absorbed.
Manners can still be taught. Sometimes people are selfish and think only of themselves and not others, especially in a crowd, One person showing care and courtesy can make a big difference.
Manners seem to be going by the wayside. Sad really
🦋OK. My turn to ask…May I reblog this on Riverside Peace…Next Tuesday?
You don’t have to ask. 🙂 My rule has always been that my content is free to share any time, any day, by any person. And I am grateful to you for doing so! thanks! DR
I like to ask. 🙂 Thanks.
It is appreciated. 🙂
I totally believe your observations. I’m more than aware of such trends.
Here, on WordPress, I often see people explicitly talk about avoiding the negative. I’ve also been told that my blog has too much negativity at times. But I write about such things exactly for the reason you stated – to start a conversation in hopes this gets addressed. Focusing on the positive is nice and dandy, but it’s also the easy way out sometimes.
Life isn’t always rainbows, chocolate cocoa and playful puppies.
Bit I want it to be like that SO much!!!
I experienced a similar feeling Saturday night. I hope to get my hopeful attitude back soon. ❤️🦋🌀
I hope you do too. The smart device is a true epidemic.
This is sad but true..we have lost that sense of courtesy…we also have lost our sense of responsibility…
If you get a moment you should watch Simon Sinek’s video on the smart device, addiction and relationships. It is a real and serious epidemic.
Thanks …i will check that one out
This seems to be a global phenomenon. It seems worse in larger cities/crowded areas, but overall, decent manners & courtesy seem to be a dying art…
I believe it is because people are accustomed to online relationships.
I thought I was the only who likes to watch people’s behaviors. It looks like people forget their manners. And more sad, there children are watching and picking up that kind of behavior.
When it gets crowded it does seem there are a lot of people who forget how to be courteous.
Danny, I don’t call this post being negative but more like being realistic. I was taught a long time ago to be courteous to people and although I sometimes become discouraged by people’s nasty behaviors, I still uphold the manners I was taught as a child. And every once in a while, I get a thank you or a smile.
I appreciate you view. I guess I get so tired of seeing so much self-focused behavior and once I’ve noticed it I cannot stop noticing it. Then I notice it everywhere and so often that it begins to have an impact on how I view humanity. It doesn’t feel good.
You’re definitely not alone! I despise the self-absorbed mentality, especially when it comes to people walking down the street with their heads down, looking like the Pied Piper is leading them somewhere.
News flash: Most likely whatever you are talking about ain’t that important!
Agreed!!
I missread “We forget that this thing around us is a live……” as “a hive”, and really, that is what it is. We are all dependent upon one another, whether we like it or not. We cannot exist in a vacuum, even if we were to live off grid. Great post!
It is so true. And sometimes out in those crowds it definitely feels like a hive! lol
Well said Danny. With so much negativity around, ignoring it becomes hard at times, nor advisable.
I still try to be positive, but sometimes people are not pleasant or polite.
Don’t we all know, it is so annoying.
I get it. I don’t even want to go to these things sometimes. I do it for my son mostly. He is pretty well mannered, says please, thank you, excuse me. You have to tell them when they’re young.
I think “parenting” is different these days. The kids who grew up in the generation of everyone gets a trophy are now having kids of their own. I hope they learned to raise them differently. I also hope society realizes the smart phone is harmful to our health, creates addiction and is not to be used by teenagers except in moderation.
Most people around here are pretty courteous. The other day, I was behind a woman struggling to pull a shopping cart up some stairs because the escalator was broken. Before I could do anything, an couple of young guys stepped past me, took her cart and carried to the top for her. She thanked them profusely, and they smiled and went off. That’s pretty typical for my neck of the woods:-)
Several years ago I wrote a blog – Materialism Run Amuck – after visiting the Mall during the holiday season … cured me from venturing out into the Christmas crowds.
I still enjoy the Christmas hustle and bustle for some reason. I like the feeling the season gives me, but I have to ignore the people in order to do so. lol
I hear ya – I have to get into the Zone myself to deal with all the people
Thank you!!
Oh, I agree. It’s terrible.
Thanks for reading!!
My pleasure.
It’s sad.
It truly is. The world is not evolving.
More like devolving.
I have to get into the Zone myself to deal with all the people. It truly is. The world is not evolving.I still enjoy the Christmas hustle and bustle for some reason. I like the feeling the season gives me, but I have to ignore the people in order to do so. don’t even want to go to these things sometimes. I do it for my son mostly.