*Sigh* Is it just me, or is there a sad lack of politeness in this world? People just stopped being courteous.

Well, actually, I take that back...some people I still very much polite, but its the others that rather bother me. And, what I mean by not being polite doesn't necessarily mean that they don't say "sorry" or "excuse me" or "thank you"...its the WAY that it is said.

Here's a scenario, which occured today:

Me: *going down the stairs to the subway station, minding my own business...*
Man with briefcase: *skips down stairs briskly (not necessarily in the school-girl way, but in a very "I am in a businesslike hurry" way)*
*accidently hits me with the briefcase in the process*
Sorry (This said is a gruff, clipped way...as though iw as the one bumping into him*
Me: Its alright
Man with Briefcase: Hmph
Me: *shrug*

Okay, that in itself is an occurence common enough...and I wouldn't have noticed it, really, if this following thing didn't happen:

Me: *standing in subway train, reading some amusing ads on the walls*
Curly-haired Woman: *walks by me, and brushes by me so hard in the process, that I almost lose my balance*
Sorry
*glares*
Me: Its alright...*quizzical look*


I don't know why, but having two people act like that in a row irked me. I mean, if you bother saying "sorry", maybe it will help if you act like you ARE sorry...maybe thats just me, but that's kinda the whole point of it, don't you think?

The same goes for "excuse me", "thanks"....being polite does not encompass merely saying the words... Just because you say thanks, it doesn't make you polite if you say it in a voice that is far from thankful.

Schools, work places, streets, city transport- everything would be better, if only politeness was heeded a bit more.

I probably sounds so preachy and condescending right now, even though I dont mean to. I will admit, that sometimes I am guilty of being fakely polite, too...if I had a bad day and I bump into someone, its hard to say sorry in a sorry way...or to be thankful for something, when you'd much rather not be.

But the problem is, for a lot of people what kind of day they had, or any other more or less excusable reason, doesn't play any factor. And THAT is what is sad...what makes me a bit scared for the human race.


So, that is my rant for the day.
Anyone who has any thoughts to share on this subject, feel free to reply