The Things People Do!

A few years ago I was watching the happenings on busy Hampstead High Street from the window of my son’s flat together with his FIL and we were mesmerised by the sight of a lady sitting at the bus stop opposite shaving her legs!!

Some people, particularly in busy public places think they are invisible.

I was on a commuter bus behind someone who was finishing getting dressed. She did her hair , tied it in a bun thing, applied her makeup and sprayed me in my face with hairspray until I choked. Then she turned round to see why I was choking and seemed surprised that she was the cause.

Another time, also on the bus, a woman was with a string of kids all eating brightly coloured ices. One small girl went decidedly green and then vomited over herself, her neighbour and the bus (luckily for me I was just beyond reach) Her neighbour, an elderly lady, took out a pack of tissues and began the clean up.
I was so impressed. If that was any of you - you know who you are! What a heroine.

I could hardly believe what I was reading =Blinko”. Did you really expect the poor girl to inject herself in a train toilet? What is so offensive about it? Your attitude is what makes me self conscious about the procedure which as a type 1 diabetic I have to do 4 times a day along with a fingertip blood test. It’s no fun but my life depends upon it.

I really object to Blinko's remark about a young lady injecting herself in public. I take it you are not diabetic as you would know how difficult it is to be out and about and find a suitable place to inject. Would you like to have to use a dirty public toilet ? If you do it discreetly there should be no problem . I have heard of poor young people being accused of being drug users because they had to inject in public. These injections do not wait for a suitable place to come up sometimes.

Chinesecrested A man using a mobility scooted once drove into the back of my legs and everyone around rushed up and asked him if he was OK (he was).

I haven't read the whole thread so has anyone mentioned spitting? Remember those notices on public transport, NO SPITTING? The good reason for that was to try to limit the spread of TB because it's caused by a spore forming bacterium that can survive for many years. Spitting in the street is way more disgusting than someone's bare feet.

I agree that the incidents of anti social behaviour cited on this thread are disgusting, but Imfeel I must take issue with the poster who gets angry with anyone using the disabled loo if they appear able bodied. I have noticed that some places now display the sign "Not all disabilities are visible". There are plenty of people young and old with dibilitating illnesses such as Crohns who need to use a lavatory urgently urgently.

What amazes my friend and me, when walking along any road, is that when people are coming towards us walking 2 or 3 abreast, it's always us who step out of the way without thinking about it. If we stay together, look in a different direction and not move when younger people come towards us, it seems that they almost barge in to us unless we give way!

Well I'm most definitely not middle class and I agree with all the posters who despair at the selfish attitudes and actions of so many.

Also starbird, it's people like your motorcycling boyfriend who have made other motorcyclists like my OH and I, work even harder over the years to prove to everyone that most of us are not uncouth yobs. Sorry he got a splinter in his foot, but I'm sure he could have found somewhere else to try and take it out.

Elegran, most people do not set out to cause offence or harm others. The behaviour cited on this thread is the exception rather than the rule. Men have peed against walls, bushes and gardens for millennia. Babies are not generally changed on cafe tables either. The original post was about someone taking a shoe and sock off in M & S cafe - shock horror- which has been followed by criticisms of others' bags; backpacks, eating habits, failure to close/open doors, apply makeup, hair brushing, use of the pavement. First world problems indeed.

Teegee54 I am puzzled and quite simply gobsmacked by what you think is "middle class snobbery" in someone objecting to -
*having their foot run over or being knocked down and sustaining injuries by someone on a scooter or bike
*someone changing poo filled babies nappies on a restaurant table
*a person picking their toenails or combing their hair over a shared restaurant table
*people pissing in your garden in full view of house windows
*being hit by carelessly managed backpacks, suitcases etc.

This isn't about class systems, this is just very basic respect and courtesy to the people around you. It's that simple. Whoever you are and wherever you are.

Repressed middle classes? For objecting to someone peeing in their front garden in full view of their windows? Someone skateboarding into old ladies? Or parking their scooter on their feet then cursing them for not getting out of your way?

For not liking to have a stinking nappy changed under their nose while they eat? Would you extend that to the mother herself not shitting on the floor in the cafe too? Are basic manners and consideration, cleanliness and hygeine just a bourgeouis affectation, and to hell with everyone else!

It is not just the middle classes who have standards. If my grandmother (definitely working class and not at all repressed) had seen some of the things posted on here she would have told them what she thought of such scruffy selfishness.

Auntieflo, it wouldn't have been my personal preference but yes I probably would have stood for it. And I beg to differ with you, I do think that there is a sub text of middle class snobbery in this thread. We look down on them because we are/ know better.

Talking about rude people, about 5 years ago, DH and I were at a train station waiting to meet our friend from the train, a man, looked about late 60's with his DGS, walked past us, let out the most disgusting, massively loud fart, turned to the DGS, who only looked about 7, and said "Cop hold of that one then", DH and I were absolutely disgusted, the dirty old so and so just laughed, his poor DGS looked so upset and bewildered, it was awful.

GabriellaG

There is no "middle class snobbery" about changing a baby on a cafe table, shared or not. Would you have stood for it TeeGee54?

There seems to me to be a lot of middle class snobbery and self satisfaction in this thread. IMHO people do not set out to cause offence or harm to others, mishaps and accidents happen. That is a fact of life. People may feel the need to congratulate themselves on their superior upbringing, however, the reality is that people in the 50's & 60's were generally much more repressed than they are now. We have a society that is generally speaking much more open and tolerant of others than ever before. I wonder if the thread is symptomatic of the intolerance of the baby boomer generation?

As another who has somehow morphed into a Grumpy Old Woman I do wonder why this happens. What part of the ageing process causes this? But we do keep our sense of humour, even those with "nowt to brag about." ?
Recently I watched a young woman spend the entire hour of a train trip applying layer upon layer of shaped, sculpted, smeared, smoothed and brushed makeup to her face using her mobile phone as a mirror. A whole hour!!

That sounds vile ? nobody wants extra cheese on their scones surely??
In my supermarket of choice, as I was loading the belt, the man sat waiting to scan took the time to CLIP his fingernails ?. Yes I did complain!!! Just why??
People on buses with bags really get my goat. I'm often heard saying 'Don't mind me I'm fine' after being whalloped! Not that it makes a difference sadly..

Thirty years ago on a stroll through Kew Gardens our five year old son and my husband visited the men's lavatories.
My husband has yet to get over the sight of full ablutions, feet in the basin , nostrils etc being rinsed out and washed by a chap who we then saw outside on his prayer mat.

gulligranny

There are many scooter users who don't consider pedestrians and even those unfortunate enough to have a chronic disability, should still drive courteously and carefully. Being disabled does not mean you can or should abandon manners.

chicken
I've seen 2 men urinating outside a pub. One turned before he'd completed dressing and I said (as I walked past) 'Ah well, I can see you've nowt to brag about'. His mate burst out laughing.

I was knocked into a wall last year by a 'lad' aged about 18/20 who was on a skateboard on the pavement. He had earbuds in and looking at his phone. I went flying, one side of my face was grazed and my wrist was sprained from trying to break the fall.
Not a word from him as he carried on into the mall.
I heartily agree with others who mention backpacks and sports bags carried over the shoulder. The wearer seems totally unaware of the danger, especially on train platforms. They have only to turn and the full force would knock you for 6.
Likewise mobility scooters and buggies which take up the whole width of an aisle in Boots.

Am puzzled Grandtante......did you not understand my post?
We didn’t need lessons or telling, I was never told how to behave when out and about or in cafes etc.You simply picked up on it by observation, growing up in the 50’s and 60’s ( in the UK) nobody would have dreamed of doing lots of the things mentioned on this thread.
Children growing up now, on the other hand do need lessons, as what they observe is selfishness, lazyness and downright mucky behaviour.

Yes "too fat to walk" doesn't sound very nice Brujajill but on my recent trip to Florida where supermarkets keep plenty of scooters with trolley baskets for customers to use and every single one in use had a very overweight person using it. None of them elderly. I am a big lady but they made look slim.