Apparently most people find it difficult to be polite these days. When was the last time you had someone hold a door for you, or had someone thank you when you held the door for them? Probably hard to remember, right?
Due to what I believe is a major bump in general rudeness, I am now employing the phrase, rude is the new polite!

Here are a few specific ways I have noticed people embracing the rude is the new polite motto:
1. When I hold the door for someone I almost never get a thank you or a smile.
2. When I am approaching a door, even with my 9 month old in her stroller, I very rarely have someone open a door for me, even when they are in position to easily do so.
3. When I let someone ahead of me in traffic (out of a tricky parking lot, etc) gone are the days of receiving a smile and/or a wave. The friendly thank you gesture has been replaced by a confused stare or sometimes even a grimace. My father recently had someone flip him the bird in return for his kindness…go figure!
4. When I am waiting my turn to get on an elevator, or go on an escalator, etc, I am often cut off more than once by someone who is “in a hurry.”
5. When someone drops something out of their bag and starts to walk away and you retrieve it for them only to have them give you the stink eye as if you tried to pick pocket them.

Ah yes, gone are the days of thank you sir and come again maam. 2010 is all about the F you and get out of my way jerk!

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