Are people getting meaner and more miserable?

I think as the economy continues to be bad, if we are not careful we are all going to tend toward meanness and grouchiness. I do not usually offer workmen refreshments, they are usually here and gone as quickly as possible. I do offer them a kind word, a smile, a thank you, and friendly conversation. I may have to think of at least a cup of cold water, the weather is really hot.

You can't just judge from one person, but I do understand what you mean. I think it might be technology that is causing us to be like this. I mean, think about it. Technology draws people who are far away in distance together, but it also gives people an excuse to not interact with each other face to face. People seem to have forgotten manners because they aren't interacting like they used to.

When I have ever had people working in my house or on the property I have always asked if they would like something cold or hot to drink depending on the weather at the time. Its just the polite and nice thing to do. I do believe people have become colder and meaner. Its not like it was 30 or 40 years ago when people trusted each other more and were just down right friendlier. I think its become a cold hearted world and that is part of the reason the world is in the state its in.

Hi hvedra: I understand why you are making this question. Sometimes we think after watching how things seems to be worst everyday and how people don't care for each other that people are becoming meaner and more miserable. I'd say that our society has become more selfish everyday and that's almost the same. Moral values exist today as have been all the time but now money is people's first priority and that's what make people don't think about the others. Thanks for asking us this question. Have a nice day. ALVARO

To be honest, there are a lot of people in this world today who have had a lot of experiences that make them very distrustful. And that distrust can lead to being mean and miserable. Unfortunately, while you not have done anything to a person, they could be taking out their experiences in the world on others. It is a harsh reality and one that is true more often than not. Still, there are a lot pf people out there that can be quite miserable because its what the world has made them. That is really no excuse when you think about it, but logically speaking, it does make sense. We are shaped by our experiences and at time, life does wear us down. A lot of people feel like since people do not treat them like kindness, that must mean they have no obligation to do so either to others.

that is just awful..i mean there's nothing wrong to offer such person a drink..maybe he was really exhausted and he will surely be grateful when you offer that to him..i do offer these people drinks when they come and fix things at my house..though i had to be careful since i'm just a teen..i think it's ok..some people just could not been bother about manners..trust me,i've seen many person like that

I had no idea that people were so mean. When we have men in to do work in our house, it seems that the kettle is never off the boil. They seem to drink a lot of tea/cofee and I usually have to buy extra sugar because we don't use it. I don't mind making them the drinks, it's easier work than doing the jobs they are doing! _Derek

Hi, hvedra. That was very considerate and nice of you to offer him a cup of tea or coffee to drink. Some people are not that generous as you are. I remember two guys that was cutting my grass outside in my yard. I know that they were coming to cut my grass on that day. So, I made sure that I had two icy cold bottles of water ready for them. I put them in the freezer as they were cutting the yard. By the time they were in the middle of cutting the grass, I gave them cold drinks. I could tell that they were very thirsty and hot. It was very hot outside and it was during the summer time. Some people don't bother offering others anything to drink because they may not have been thinking to. And others just don't have any manners. I try to offer someone something to drink, it is the polite thing to do when someone comes over to your house as a guest.

I always get a 'no' and sometimes if I am busy with something else I forget to ask. Naughty me and this gives me reason to remember doesn't it? I do try to consider others and will more in the future. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Hope your servicing went okay.

oh...that is sad to hear. do you mean in a long day, you were the first to be nice to the guy? that is such a bummer. and am glad to hear that you were nice and pleasant to him.. people nowadays are so uptight and too distant to be nice. i guess people have grown less concerned and thoughtful towards others. i just hope that we can extend more kindness and spread the love. can there be a campaign for this?

Hello hvedra, so its not only who notices this type of things, do you think it has something to do with climate change

Hi hvedra, Like yourself, if I've got workmen in the house I always offer them a drink. I would feel really mean and miserable if I didn't!

Nice of you to offer him a cuppa. At least YOU made his day. Im the same, I'll offer them water, tea, coffee, coke (not the sniffing kind lol) As someone said in a previous post, we're used to communicate via the internet, emails or text messages, so we forget our manners, but still some remember to be nice.

I believe there are a still lot people like you this day. I believe if we treat people nice we will got the same reason in our life. I find few people like that treat worker low but because their job but he gain no respect either from other people. I believe every thing in live is vice versa.