Do the British have manners?

[frank]

No!

I have spent the last 3 days at work, very long shifts of dealing with around 1500 customers per shift. I don't mind helping people at all, I will pretty much do anything for anyone, but I am starting to get really irritated by people ho seem to have no concept of simple politeness. In those 3 days a conversation was started with the words "excuse me" ONCE. Whilst I am busy working and surrounded by maybe 10 other people, all talking, I am supposed to know the guy furthest away is talking to ME all because he suddenly blurts out a question without even looking at me? :shrug:

Welcome to the great British public. I drove buses for 30 yrs before retiring, try adding drunks junkies doped up to the eyeballs, cheeky kids who you are not allowed to answer back into the mix, I dread what the next 2o yrs will bring when all these brats grow up. When someone does speak back abruptly to these kids they go running to mummy cos in her eyes their little angels and the driver ends up on the carpet.

I did a test one early morning shift where my bus ran through a very affluent area of the city, always guaranteed a full bus, 90 odd passengers in a short stretch of road. I greeted each one with a Good Morning, just loud enough for the passenger behind the one in front to hear, I was lucky if I got two to return it, I did this for a whole week adding Have a nice day hoping it would embarrass folk into returning the gesture, how wrong I was, one old guy asked if I was taking the P*** which I suppose I really was.

Than k god I'm out of it, now I can be the Victor Meldrew when I feel like it.

 

[Bend The Light]

The words "please" and "thank you" don't appear to be taught at school nowadays. As for basic good manners, or respect for one's elders.....:shake:

I think what you mean is "The words "please" and "Thank you" are not taught at HOME these days"...it's the parent's job to bring up the children, not the teacher's.
Basic manners are learned at age 1, age 2, age 3 and 4. If they don't have them then, the teachers can't work miracles...

Cheers.

 

[Cobra]

My job would be great.....................if it wasn't for the customers

The amount of times I have witnessed children leaving the school door at home time and demanding, arm outstretched, "sweets" and then given a bag without any words from the parents. No "Hello", no "how was your day?"
Parenting skills are required to encourage what is taught in school.

Indeed

Dont you just love it when you go into a convenence shop and take your purchases to the counter where the guy is gabbering away on his mobile phone, takes your money, tills it up, gives you your change and turns his back on you, all without interupting his conversation :nono:

Annoying as hell, BUT
I do wonder sometimes if said person may not be able to speak English?
(serious point not a **** take )

Basic manners are learned at age 1, age 2, age 3 and 4. If they don't have them then, the teachers can't work miracles...
Cheers.

 

[flossie]

Interestingly...I read this thread, raised an eyebrow and said to myself "...people have been saying this for thousands of years..." - then went to the local Sainsburys - where I witnessed the same people block aisles in total unawareness of other people - then get to the tills and being increadibly polite, considerate, and chatty - then flip back the other way when they got to the carpark and dump their trollies in the first empty space instead of push it 10 yards to the trollypark, reverse out without looking, and try to run each other over leaving. Go figure...

 

[String]

You were in Sainsbury's thousands of years ago?

I knew they'd been going a while, but....

 

[TriggerHappy]

You were in Sainsbury's thousands of years ago?

I knew they'd been going a while, but....

 

[flossie]

:bonk:

 

[Decca]

you lot must all live in some very shoddy areas of the country, where I live it's nothing like what you lot describe, people are generally polite and helpful.

I wonder how many of you live in the unfriendly south of england

I must admit my first thought when seeing the OPs location, was "but you work in a supermarket in wales"