Are You RUDE?

I don't usually catch Oprah but thought this show was good and timely to. Take the test to see if you are rude: http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow_20080909_rude

What's so funny is:

2. Have you ever typed an e-mail while talking on the phone?

That's not rude.. That's multi-tasking. If every time my phone rings at the office, I dropped everything I was doing to talk to them, I'd never get my job done.

7. Have you let your dog relieve himself on your neighbor's lawn?

I guess Oprah doesn't live in the country. My "neighbor's lawn" could be a wooded lot... I try to discourage #2s in their mowed yards, but #1s don't do *that* much damage... ;)

9. Have you ever stolen someone's parking spot?

People have labelled parking spots? How do you "steal" a parking space?

13. Have you ever taken someone else's food or drink from the office refrigerator?

We have a hysterical Dilbert cartoon on our office fridge... It's about the "free sodas"... Funny, if you've ever seen it.

I checked out mostly "not rude", I think... I'm assuming a "yes" answer defines me as rude. I said "yes" to two questions.

I don't think #2 typing emails refers to ppl working in an office. She to has done it and didn't know it was considered rude.

Oprah didn't devise the questions. :) But no she doesn't live in the country LOL. So is it not rude in the country but rude in the suberbs to let your dog pee/poop on a neighbors lawn? I figure this is what ppl take dogs out for! LOL! But she thought it was rude not to have doggy bags to pick up the pooh.

How do you steal a parking spot---easy----you see someone waiting for a spot, blinker on and coming in from opposite direction you snake in there anyhow. I've never done that but had it done to me ONCE. Man it was so rude I'd waited forever.

blinkers? What're those?!?! =)

I said yes to stealing someone's parking spot, I'm taking it as if it's a two-way isle and there is someone waiting to turn left into a parking spot and I turn right into the parking spot, that would be stealing their spot?? I've never done that but I have raced around the lot with someone else to beat them to a certain spot. Have I ever stole a spot that had a sign over it, such as "employee of the month" I've never done that.

Typing an email while on the phone, I do it when I'm talking to my mom, outside of that I end up typing what I am saying lol!

I've never owned a dog in my adult life so that's not applicable.
I also don't have kids so that doesn't apply either.

I'm selfish and rude, I cut in front of drivers on the freeway, but what are they doing sitting in the fast lane while everyone else is passing them on the right?? Now that's rude. Another thing they do around here is if they're in the fast lane hogging it and you get behind them, they will literally either speed up or slow down to the same speed as the car/truck next to them so you can't get even pass on the right. People don't think that they may be going fast because of an emergency. Then when you do find room to pass they speed up to the same speed you're going. That's one of the rudest things people can do to someone, if someone is in a hurry let them by, it's not the slower car's speeding ticket!!

Don't have a dog, don't have kids, don't work in an office. Do I exist?

Turn signals - the lack of use of - gives my husband more stress than I can tell you. THAT is rude (and sometimes dangerous)!

=) I was being a smarty pants.. I know what blinkers are. Just don't see any Texans use them in parking lots...

I saw this show.
I have emailed while on the phone in front of the computer. Didn't even think of that as rude.

I can't imagine taking a co-worker's food (or anyone elses for that matter).

Can't imagine taking the parking spot of someone that was sitting there waiting for it (although it happened to me once.)

My dog has pooped on a neighborhood lawn and I didn't have a bag to pick it up, because it was the SECOND time he pooped during that walk. How dare he!
I just hurried away embarrassed hoping they didn't see it was us out the window.

I do hate it when you pass someone going slower than you and then they speed up! to keep you from being able to get back in the slow lane. They take it personally that you wanted to pass them.

They don't do that in California, it's a heafty fine and it might get you shot. When I moved here and found this type of behavior I couldn't believe it. Pet Peave, I'll quit griping about it.

I know it Angelsong, DH teases (we're in Houston) that those poor folks must not have been able to afford the upgrade with blinkers!

those there blinker-thingies cost extra on them big trucks.. :) *wink wink*

OMG - I'm cracking up LOL!

I'm originally frmo Bellaire, TX. I've got to say Texans are just about the most polite drivers I've ever seen...no offense to anyone else. I haven't driven in a whole lot of states. Even my DH who is from Pittsburgh loves to drive through Texas. I've lived in Florida for 24 (okay 25) years.

Let me say that if people here drive like they do in other states they'd get a ticket. Turning into the outside lane, none of them thar blinker thingys, rolling through stop signs & red lights, passing on double stripes, etc... One really has to be careful around here you might get pushed into a marsh.

I've been trying to teach my 16 year old how to really drive and it's not sticking because he drives like everyone else. "No one else drives like that".

I always use my blinker-thingy because I paid for them, they're not an option! I know I'm a nerd, but I may as well get some use out of the darn things!

BTW - Some girl "stole" my spot yesterday at the grocery store. I felt like pulling a "Towanda" on her (Fried Green Tomatoes) LOL!

I grew up in Michigan and drove there as a teen. I didn't pay much attention to the roads and those around me, I was a TEEN, LOL.

Now I'm in Texas and although we lived elsewhere in between the two only in Texas have I been given the finger on the road. And it was because I was hauling a trailer and didn't move fast enough for someone!

I've seen just about anything you can on the road and I don't know that any place can hold the polite title for that. UNLESS you are talking small town Texas (I've been in the city to long LOL!) because there ppl are so polite they'll even drive the shoulder to let someone pass! I've never seen that anywhere!

Bellaire and Houston were like that when I was growing up there. The last time DH drove through Texas was about a year ago. He is still amazed that people pull over. That doesn't happen here, people will speed up when you try to pass though.

Everyone gets flipped off everywhere LOL!

Lots of California drivers drive me nuts and I was born and raised here. DH is from England, where he has twice taken driving courses to improve his already impressive driving skills. However, his idea of good driving is sometimes based on efficiency (always moving forward) more than what one might think is 'right' or 'wrong.' For instance, he told me once he was amazed at how we stayed between the lines (say on a freeway on-ramp) even when there are no other cars around. lol My response was if you always do it, you don't have to think about other cars. To which he replied we should always be thinking about other cars. He had a point.

Just to say, there is so much that goes into our driving and other habits. I do think most of us don't, on the whole, think of others as much as we should as we go about our daily activities. Unless I'm racing to a hospital, nothing is so urgent to cause me to cut someone off. I choose to battle for important things. :-)

I know what you mean! When I see people speed by me I always wonder why they are in a hurry for their funeral.

link wouldn't work for me so I don't know if I'm rude or not.

Emailing and talking on the phone same time is not an option as I can't afford seperate lines... even if I could,I'm single-minded/ can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

I've told my hub's time and time again,it's rude not to turn the tv off when he has company....or at the very least,put it on mute.

I'm a by-the-book driver....except when I'm on a fire dept./first responder call...then I'm running hot(even in an emergency,we can only go 5 miles over speed limit and have to at least slow down at stops to be sure it's safe)w/flashers on. On one occassion I was on our two lane road,flashers going and someone delibertly pull into the middle to slow me down. On their behalf,I don't have anything on my car saying I'm an emergency responder....need to bring that up at next meeting.

Although I live in a rural area it's a well populated area. People walk their dogs off leash and I've had them let their dogs come into my yard while I'm out there,to do their business. I have no problem telling to get their dogs out of my yard if they're going to be that stoopid.

I have garbage cans in a big cage across the road from my house. I don't mind people using them as I'd rather them not litter the road but mostly they throw it in the bottom of the cage instead of opening the lid on the can. That's lazy and RUDE.

Last time I worked in public,it was at a fitness center. I trained in bodybuilding and powerlifting as I personal trained some of the big guys soI had to know my stuff. I didn't have any problems w/ co-workers taking my food...labeled or not *BG*.....that was some 16 yrs ago....now a 6 yr old can take me down over a candybar*BSG*

Peggy

I think littering is pretty rude I agree. My ever curious toddler had to have me explain why all parking lots of dots (chewed gum) and why the paper was on the ground. Funny and sad at the same time.

I'm afraid it's mostly kids littering out here. Too bad their parents don't teach them better. I'm teaching my DDGkids not to litter and how to compost.

I don't really agree that it's only kids littering. I see lots of "adults" litter out of windows, usually daily. (I drive through downtown atlanta daily to work and live in the "city"). Now, you want to see some rude drivers? Visit Atlanta. I swear. These folks are CRAZY! (I've lived here my whole life so I can make generalizations :-P)

bigred said the litterers where they live are mostly youth. i agree the world over it's mostly adults. i saw a tot drop her gum at the entrance to a store, lady (looked like grandma) walking far in front of her turned, obviously saw but just said, "hurry up".

the only 2 times i've stepped in gum was in texas and i've only been here a few years lol.

i have checked out a few more items in the express lane but only if there was no one else waiting. i have gossiped unfortunately. the others no.

Gotcha.
I've stepped in gum too many times to count (not sure if that's a result of living here, or the places I was at). It is definitely irritating!

I can't get the quiz to work for me at my work, I'll hopefully remember to do it later! I don't think I am rude, so we'll see :)

Rude You want to here about Rude Be a Flagger on Road construction I get down right Mean some people must think you are a mind reader and no what way they are turning or that the light changes to red and they can still go.
You have your sign turned for the other side to go slow on a 1 lane rode the other side said Stop so the other side stops and sits and wait and I am not even facing them. Till I see that they are waitting to go
Today I told a lady to stop the lite was changing to red she kept comming I yelled to STOP she said My sign didn't say that I told her the lite did and than she wanted to yell at me she had traffic stoped I said your blocking the road .
I think that she called the Police and told them I yelled at her I am sure she didn't say she was told to stop an kept going. Oh well I didn't get in trouble people need to pay attention when in a work Zone there is a reason why I stand there with a flag its not to make you mad It is my job to Make all SAFE and to try and give are guys a Break when they are trying to get out and No one will stop it only takes us longer to get off the road and grt the job done
That why the saying is GIVE THEM A BREAK
Sorry I was rude just now to type all this I had to get it off my chest I feel better now thanks for reading
Dimmer
This isn't where I was today Most of the time I am on the Tollway so here is a picture
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Oh man I feel for construction type folks. I used to be in that business and although I didn't do road construction I always felt bad for those guys, people zooming past them angry they are "in the way" but there they are working OT out in the heat.

I used to have to block off whole aisles at stores to work on lighting that was out, yes during day hours, and can't believe the number of people who would be idiots and try to go around my barricades or would just stand them humming and hawing at how RUDE I was. I would often apologize for the delay in reopening an aisle and will never forget the kindness of one man who said, "oh no problem I'm in no rush, besides I'm in construction so I know how it is."

Oprah said on this shows episode, you show your true self by how you treat service workers. I think that is so true.

Turn signals are totally optional on vehicles, aren't they?

Just kidding.

I don't know why this one wasn't on the litmus test for rudeness:

I have sat through several movies and performances--including one tonight--(both children's and professional concerts) where people sang along (loudly), talked to each other during, or let their children scream, talk and run around. To my way of thinking, THAT is rude. (A sudden outburst from a kid, I understand. But letting them terrorize a 20' perimeter around them, for the entire duration? That's just plain rude.) Far ruder than emailing and talking on the phone at the same time, IMO.

As a rule, I don't cut people off in traffic. I don't sneak up a merging lane to get in front of everyone else. I don't run red lights, or deliberately create gridlock by pulling into an intersection on a yellow light. I try to let a car in when we're all waiting in line (although I won't "flag" them through and take responsibility if there are other lanes of traffic I can't control.) I don't take someone else's parking place,and I don't park in the pregnant mom or handicapped spots. (I just count my blessings that I don't qualify for those spots at this moment in my life ;o)

I hold the door for people behind me, and grumble under my breath when someone (usually an older person--for whom I would gladly HOLD the door) lets it rudely slam in my face. If there's a doubt as to who was first, I give deference to an older person or the pregnant mom, or someone with young children.

I try to smile at everyone I meet. It's amazing how many people in wheelchairs, older people, and little kids brighten up when someone looks them in the eye and smiles at them. Sad, isn't it? We've lost the habit to LOOK at each other and see others as valuable human beings, who are just as important and busy and full of self-doubt and stress as we are.

I find it ironic (and sad and hypocritical) that as we become more politically correct, we've also become more vulgar and hostile toward one another. I'm not saying that it was ever okay to use racial epithets, but why did we decide that wasn't okay, but it IS okay to refer to women or minorities wtih incredibly crude derogatory comments? Why do we buy and listen to music that degrades over 50% of the population?

And yes, my dog occasionally does her business in the neighbor's yard (we live on large lots, and sometimes we don't make it all the way back to our yard before she has to go.) But if possible, I drag her to our own yard. When it's not possible, I make sure she's out near the road, where it's unlikely anyone will step in it. If we're walking at the Greenway, I gratefully use one of the handy bags they supply and pick up after her.)

I return my cart to the stall, I recycle everything I can, and I try to use each day to the best of my ability.

Far, far, FAR from perfect, but trying VERY hard to be a bright spot every day, and find a way to make someone else feel appreciated, heard or seen, and that they matter. So yes, I'm one of the people who bemoan our lack of civility and genuine kindness to one another. (You really can't have one without the other.)

BRAVO Terry! That was absoutely wonderful! I agree wholeheartedly!!!!!!!!!!

I to am disappointed when movie goers (kids and adults) must ruin it for those around them. Likewise I am aghast that people would allow their CELLPHONE to RING during CHURCH! Aghhhhhh! In the show (not on the test) another lady griped about that. Another service worker talked of how rude it is for a customer to come to her window/booth/register and be talking on their phone.

When was it we became so important we had to have general conversations with someone unseen only to ignore the person (s) we are with?! How rude!

Oh as a Mom, thank you thank you thank you, for not taking those "pregnant moms" or "parents with children" parking spaces! Fortunately I've not SEEN someone else do that yet or I WOULD go up to them to say something and then if they are still high and mighty I would tell the store.

It's disappointing when you see someone pull into a handicapped spot, pull out their temporary handicapped parking tag (is it even their's or someone else in their family???), park and get out SEEMING to be blessed with 100% of their abilities.

Other day I was in a HUGE line (live in Houston remember) to turn left and we all waited waited waited through 2 lights already moving up. I'm way in the back still and as our light is green again a car who had zoomed past us merges in the turn lane second in line! I cannot believe the gall of some people. And the road issues seem to be growing. More people are becoming "too important."

It's like a slap in the face to say, "I am clearly better than you, I don't have to wait."

The smile. :) Oh what a sweet sight! I have neighbors I've smiled at who give me a blank stare. How strange. My toddler used to LOVE to smile and she would say HI to everyone! It's amazing (kids and adults) who would downright ignore her or give her a blank stare. I got so fed up with that (she wasn't getting in their face or business, she was standing with me, usually at a store, and would say hi) that I would say loud enough for the other person to hear (who usually still didn't respond), "Sorry honey they must be shy" or "I guess they can't hear you dear."

She no longer says hi to everyone she sees but does still say it often. :) Bless her.

And then there are the sweet souls you meet briefly----the ones who were so kind you think, wow, I wish I KNEW that person, I wish that person was my neighbor/Grandpa/parent/friend. Met a man last night, an old gent, who smiled at our young family (rather than just pass by) and commented on what a nice family we were and what cute kids. It just renews your faith in humanity.

Hello, I work in the public at a Walmart. First of all I know that alot of the associates at places like that can be rude, sometimes I get embarassed listening to my coworkers, BUT it is amazing to me how rude people can be not only to us but to other customers.

Don't know if I'm rude although I don't think so. LOL Link wouldn't work for me either, will try later. A comment about the express lane, its ok if the front (thats what we,associates, call the area of the store where all the registers are) lines are slow or non exsistant for anybody to go to this lane but thank you for not using it if it is busy. I was pulled up to help check one day (not a cashier but have the ability if they need help) and put on an express lane. I checked out this customer who had about 40 items but were all small, the next customer jumped on me about it, very loudly. I am not allowed to tell people in my store where they are allowed to check out, if I tried I would get into trouble. Another example, I work in the lawn/garden area and we have a register but early in the morning we don't have a lot of money in the register. One morning several customers paid with $100 bills and before we could get change another customer paid with one for a $15.00 purchase. The cashier called for change. The customer got mad and started for the front to meet the associate bringing the change and the names she called her. Debbie is a little chunky and this customer was calling her a fat a** many times in front of everybody all the way to the garden center. When Debbie was trying to appoligize she told her to shut up that we had made her late for an app. She was buying a bag of Grubex. Debbie was in tears and even other customers in line was trying to make Debbie feel better. I know this is an extreme case but stuff like this happens more than you think.
What is the world coming to? It makes me feel better to be friendly to people.

Thank you for listening.

So many good points here I couldn't begin to comment individually but I will comment on one thing Amber, my grandfather, many many years ago, would always ask "What is this world coming to?" There are still a lot of good people in this world......but there are also a lot of them that I am just as glad that Grandad isn't here to see "what this world has come to". I guess the best we can do is try to be part of the Good crowd and be the best example we can......as for the others I can only hope they are enjoying their rude existence. But I doubt it. My great Aunt had a little "Book Of Good Cheer"from 1923 and one of the verses was "the only way to be truly happy is to make someone else so". And I think that is true. Thank you for listening, and I hope I am not being rude in poppoing my two cents into your conversation!

What a cute book!!!!!!!!!!

It is a wonderful little book.....it is out of print now and I wish that it could be reprinted. If I ever win the lottery (I guess that means I would have to buy a ticket, huh?) I would like to find someone to repair it , it is getting quite fragile these days. Someone is always asking the ."What possessions would you grab if you had to evacuate your home quickly." For non-living things this little book would be high on my list!

amber,
I would be the one that would tell that rude womant to shut her %#@! mouth.I don't get mad or rude in public often but I'm afraid that would have doen it for me. How awful!

I wanted to bigred. You know what makes it worse? She did all that in front of her young teenage son. I'm sure he thinks now that it is ok to treat people this way because his mom does it.

I've been lurking and reading this thread. When I worked at a women's clothing store several years ago there was no shortage of rude customers. The woman who owned the store told her employees that some people just come in looking for trouble. They are already angry, who knows why. She said that it was like they wanted to start a game of tennis by tossing out mean remarks instead of a tennis ball. The only way to stop the game was not to hit the ball back! She also said that when a mean person was just ranting away by themselves it soon became apparent to everyone exactly Who had the problem. It isn't always easy not to engage in the game, but really, that's all it is.

And of course when you are a parent you are the target of more rude comments.

Especially when others see you are pregnant. :)

Okay I have to tell you what happen today that was so RUDE I can't understand how someone could do this
I was working on the Tollwasy and one of the Truck drivers was backing up and slowed down to talk with me about the weather and things and I said yes its cold outside today
He was standing between his door on a 6 wheeler where you get out and I was watching the traffic to slow it down in case one of the trucks were comming and I truned for a mintue he had his back to me and he was urinatting(SP) and it was comming to my foot and my lunch I was shocked I didn't now what to say or even do so I moved and he left and told me be safe and have a good day
I don't even now what words to use and than another truck was comming.
The guy is not so bright but there was no call for that I just couldn't belive it no Manners at all
Sorry I just had to get that off my chest

That is totally disgusting AND rude. As if he couldn't have held it til he could pee in a ditch or rest stop.

I know this is one of the guys that I work with and never has it done anything. Its hard on the tollway to find a portapotty so you should no what to do or how much you should drink.
I do and he gets off the tollway so when he is loading he can go than. It was just Bad

Yew! How strange that he didn't seem to think anything of it. I was rude to my brother in an e.mail the other day without realizing it. (Yes, it was political. So I won't be specific.) I apologized later, when he indicated he was angry. i thought I was being funny and if we had been talking he would've known by my tone of voice that I wasn't serious. On the other hand, it pushed some buttons and maybe he would've been offended anyway. But, we could have straightened it out right away. I wonder if our long-distance, fast writing, internet relationships make it easier to be rude.

I think the email route sometimes can seem rude because people aren't catching the body language or tone of voice like you suggested. Sometimes when I am writing I go back over it and think "boy does that sound bad or that comes off sounding strange" then I try to reword it to sound better. So to answer your question yes I think it is easier to be rude in internet relationships but I don't think we on the whole we mean to be.

However in a different way, I have a coworker who was upset with another coworker because of his lack of work ethics that was directly affecting all of us. She wanted to tell him but was afraid if she broached the subject at work it would get into a big fight and produce tension in everybody, as well as both of them dragging more people into the discussion. She sent him a text message expressing her concerns. He of course couldn't see that he was in the wrong and got mad at her. On the good side only two people are mad-her and him and the rest of us weren't dragged into it. LOLOL