[Closed] Why does no one say thank you anymore?

Thanks for posting 🙂

Thank you for pointing this out robbo.

[edit]Grunt to allthepies.[/edit]

Beaten to it purist but thanks for the thanks! 😀

No, no. Thank YOU.

No THANK YOU.

We <heart> you 🙂

Do you drive an Audi / BMW?

Do you drive an Audi / BMW?

No a Ford Mondeo - proper rep-tastic but didn't really fancy the extra cost of the BMW/Audi with a lower spec for the badge.

I do but you probably can' hear me as I'm in a different car.

I do, and plenty of people still thank me. Do you live in a horrible thankless town?

One thing amuses me (and I do it too)

When someone gives way to you for example and you decide to thank them, why do you mouth 'thankyou' [i]almost[/i] silently (barely above a whisper) when the sound has to overcome the sound of two engines, two radios, and usually two panes of toughened glass.

You should really be bellowing [b]THANKYOU![/b] at the top of your voice.....

Dragged up rather than brought up I would guess

Have we turned into a nation of unsatisfied grumpy people?

What do you mean "turned into"? We have a strong and proud tradition of being utterly miserable bastards, and spent most of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries imposing our virulently joyless outlook on the rest of the world through a combination of military and economic might and religious intolerance. Did a pretty good job of it too, just look at the place. We didn't say thank you when we built the empire, we didn't say thank you when we took it apart, so I see no reason why we should start saying it now!

I'm sorry, don't know what came over me there. I was woken up a bit early, and my son is inflicting Thomas The Tank Engine on me again. I'll try another cup of coffee...

I have noticed that no one says thank you anymore ......

It's in direct relation to getting old, going deaf, getting arthritic, becoming daft.

Soon you'll be pointing out how in your day you could understand every single word a singer sung, but now they just make noises and scream.

HTH but no need to thank me.

I find most people say thank you if I make way, even some audi/bmw drivers - although usually they just pull out without signalling 🙁

why do you mouth 'thankyou' almost silently (barely above a whisper) when the sound has to overcome the sound of two engines, two radios, and usually two panes of toughened glass.

I find that mouthing the word "bollox" gets a more interesting response.

This is another thing Americans tend to do better than us...not New Yorkers though, they're more like us. Probably Thatcher's fault.

still relatively polite here... make an effort to help another driver and most say thank you.

exceptions are the majority of bmw/audi/repmobiles and frustratingly an increasing number of motorbikes.

bikes i will always move over as far as safely possible to let them feed through the traffic, gone are the days when most of them would indicate their thanks with a small hand movement or wave, now its less than 1-2 out of ten 🙁

we've got 2 different bmw headquarters type places nearby which means there's a HUGE amount of brand new spanky bmws with drivers who dont pay for their own insurance on the roads... they appear to have been told by bmw that its illegal to use indicators and that bullying your way through traffic and endangering other road users is a great advertisement for the company.

its illegal to use indicators

They use their windscreen wipers Phil. You just have to understand their language, they're not wrong or bad, just different to you.

damn, i thought i had my racism under control!

if they want to drive on my roads they gotta drive my my rules, if they dont like it... i'll pack their bags, stealing our jobs mutter mutter

Probably the same reason for the lack of correct grammar.

I always say thank you when I am driving. When I ride my bike I wave a thank you if I think a car driver has been especially courteous in their consideration for me too.

Plenty of thanking going on here in France.

It's customary to move over and let motorbikes through. They thank you by taking their right foot off the footrest.

Even the police do it! ....and, when I was out on my Motorbike t'other day and came up behind a police car in traffic, he moved over to let me through. I thought it would be rude not to so I did, then gave the customary foot wave. No problem.

SB

On the moving over for motorbikes thing... Is it just me or does anyone else think that it is dangerous?

Example - car moves over, bike assumes it is safe to overtake, turns out it isn't and the driver just wasn't really concentrating and the bike ends up head on with a central reservation/pot hole/lorry etc.

I always make sure I keep clear road position when driving with a bike behind - let the rider decide when it is safe to overtake.

I have noticed that no one says thank you anymore for courteous driving

They do, all the time. Do you drive a BMW perhaps? 🙂 *d'oh too late!*

I tend to notice people not giving a quick nod/wave/indicate when on the road as much as they perhaps used to.

I've also noticed over the last few years that people seem to scythe down slip road paying no attention to who/what is on the main carriageway and try to join regardless. Woe betide you if there is a car overtaking you, while Mr Jonny Big Bollocks attempts to join the main carriageway from your left hand side and wants to use exactly the same space that you are occupying! I did wonder for a while whether the Highway Code had changed to give those joining priority.

As for people in shops, don't get me started! I did wonder if it was just me who thought that my primary job when shopping was to hold the door for ****less minions who then wander through as if it's your duty to allow them free passage, without so much as a glance.

I have also wondered whether I am getting grumpier in my (not particularly substantial) old age. 😀

Plenty of thanking still goes on round here. Let me guess, you live down south? 😉

The OP should spend some time in Germany. That'll make Southern England seem like a hippy commune.

I did wonder if it was just me who thought that my primary job when shopping was to hold the door for ****less minions who then wander through as if it's your duty to allow them free passage, without so much as a glance

Kill them all.

I usually sing a happy 'no, thank you' at them. My wife hates it when I do that 🙂

i've dramatically given up holding doors open for people after some woman said "what do you think i am?! disabled?!!! i can work a door myself you rude prick!"

she wasnt disabled, she was carrying several bags of shopping and i was under the impression my actions would've been polite and thoughtful.

now whenever i see a woman coming i hold the door shut and shout "i dont want you to think i'm sexist!" through the door

A lot depends on where you are. Where I work many people are dyed-in-the-wool-salt-of-the-earth types who view outsiders with suspicion and distrust and you really have to work at it to get even the faintest flicker of recognition, never mind an audible acknowledgement.

Back home everyone kids themself they live in a quaint market town and it's all [i]after you[/i], [i]no you first[/i], [i]no i insist[/i], [i]oh thank you it's a lovely day isn't it?[/i] etc

When someone gives way to you for example and you decide to thank them, why do you mouth 'thankyou' almost silently (barely above a whisper) when the sound has to overcome the sound of two engines, two radios, and usually two panes of toughened glass

i've dramatically given up holding doors open for people after some woman said "what do you think i am?! disabled?!!! i can work a door myself you rude prick!"

Really?! What a tool.

yeah people are dead ingnorant arent they.. 😈 i always let people out but ruddy no thanks you get 👿 thats it from now on im going to be evil 👿 😉

yup, i had held the door open for a couple of people to come through and noticed her lagging behind so figured i'd hold the door open a while longer. its not like i saw her approaching a door and ran up to it, chest puffed out and swung it open whilst shouting "let me get that for you, your puny lady-arms cannot handle such things"

I still hold the door open for people, always will 'cos i was brought up like that... but that incident has made me think twice about holding it open for women who look angry with that fact men exist like her.

Don't let one grumpy [b]person[/b] put you off being nice Phil 🙂

shouldnt you have highlighted [u]'Grumpy[/u]' there mr molegrips.. 😉

I have to admit that I do like heading up North but I think it is just because the roads are quieter. Spend most of my driving time on the M1-M6 between London and Bham.

Dont get me wrong people do still say thank you but noticeably more so with lorry drivers it has decreased which prob means they are fed up with people accelerating past them when they have their indicator on.

EDIT: Strange double post never had that before

When I let somebody out, or let them turn right in front of me, I get a bit fed up if they then spend the next 3 seconds waving and smiling INSTEAD of getting a move on.

dont let them out anymore then... 😉

That would be mean.

spend the next 3 seconds waving and smiling INSTEAD of getting a move on

God... I know what you mean. At the end of your life, that could end up being a whole hour or so of your life wasted with being smiled at!

I'd prefer them to smile and drive.

Reminds me of Gerald Ford. The real quote was he couldn't chew gum and fart at the same time.

I drive a BMW and I've noticed...

A. People don't take you seriously when you flash them into your lane, you have to do it twice.

B. They don't say thank you as often as when I drove the Volvo, even though my driving hasn't changed.

When I let somebody out, or let them turn right in front of me, I get a bit fed up if they then spend the next 3 seconds waving and smiling INSTEAD of getting a move on.

I don't expect them to throw me a party, but it's a nice gesture to raise a hand off the wheel or a foot off the pegs.

They do up here. I bet the OP is in the south east

TJ - Bedfordshire - everyone must be a bit grumpy around here then. Ill have to move further North!

dont let them out anymore then..

No!!!!! That's how it just gets worse. The logical progression is that, eventually, nobody is courteous.

You can guarantee that for every three people you let out at a junction, one of them will do the same for somebody else. That's one more person than would have had you not done it yourself. And so what if they other two don't? Or don't say thanks. At least the people behind them got to move a bit quicker. It's all about helping the flow - of traffic and of love.

Can't say i've noticed it anymore or less depending on where i am in the country as a proportion of the people who do/don't.

But there's less cars/people so perhaps less incidences of it.

Down near London/SE the traffic is so dense that you do have to maintain a bit of a 'outta my way, coming through' mentality or you'd get nowhere. Although that doesn't mean you should be rude at the same time.

I was on the way into work a couple of months ago and let somebody filter into traffic in front of me. Next thing a little LED display lit up with the words 'thank you' in his back window

Made me smile 🙂

binners - Member
I was on the way into work a couple of months ago and let somebody filter into traffic in front of me. Next thing a little LED display lit up with the words 'thank you' in his back window

Made me smile

I was gonna mention in my post above about getting one of those. Firebox used to sell them (I think) with a remote & something like 16 slots for phrases that you could program in.
You could have a combination of 'thanks', as well as useful phrases & probably some insults to people who wound you up. Just have to make sure you pressed the right one at the right time!!

Thank you for waiting. Would you like a bag for life?

On the moving over for motorbikes thing... Is it just me or does anyone else think that it is dangerous?

Example - car moves over, bike assumes it is safe to overtake

Bikers don't assume things, generally. The ones that do tend not to be bikers for long.

In the situation described here, you can't even rule out the driver moving back to the centre of the road intentionally in order to push you into oncoming traffic 'for a laugh.' Ever moved over to let a biker past and they've nailed it to get in front of you as quickly as possible? You've probably sat there and thought "tosser," but that's why they do it.

Agreed Cougar - but I guess I drive like that so there is no margin for misunderstanding. I try to drive courteously at all times but I do try to let all other drivers/riders make their own decisions and not be influenced by anything I am doing/they think I might be doing.

when I'm doing donuts in McDonalds car park in my saxo, I always wave and say hi to my mates, and thank them for their appreciation of my driving skilz. If they can hear me above my bangin tunes and bucket exhaust.

I think most drivers etc are still courteous, you just tend to remember people who don't acknowledge or thank you more, i know I do.

But we have a wierd dichotomy here in the UK. We are generally considered the most courteous drivers in Europe but at the same time we also have the worst record on road rage

We are generally considered the most courteous drivers in Europe

To be fair, that's like arguing that Goebbels was one of the nicest chancellors of the Third Reich.

Seems polite enough up here, I'll acknowledge a thank you, just seems right

But we have a wierd dichotomy here in the UK.

I used to moan about other folk being grumpy etc, until I experienced the kindness of complete strangers when we had a nasty car accident a year or two back. People going completely out of their way to help. Restored my faith somewhat.

Down near London/SE the traffic is so dense that you do have to maintain a bit of a 'outta my way, coming through' mentality or you'd get nowhere. Although that doesn't mean you should be rude at the same time

I've found that in London and nearby people ARE still courteous but it's a much tighter game. People will ease up to create just a tiny gap and expect you to take it. It's necessary because traffic is so dense. You can't hang about, likewise you can't become intimidated or annoyed by everything happening quickly.

But we have a wierd dichotomy here in the UK. We are generally considered the most courteous drivers in Europe but at the same time we also have the worst record on road rage

I am forming a theory that it's because we care more - about other people, but also when we think other people have inconvenienced us. My experience in the US and Germany is that people are generally just blank. You don't get favours of people, but you also don't get aggro. People just drive around blankly on autopilot. You don't get thanked but you don't get aggro either - blank looks all round. I dunno which is worse. At least in the UK we tend to be concentrating.

Can't say i've noticed it anymore or less depending on where i am in the country as a proportion of the people who do/don't.

But there's less cars/people so perhaps less incidences of it.

I think that's it though, I don't really think it's some innate character of people in a certain area - but business breeds unfriendliness.

It's like when you go out walking in the Lakes or whatever. When you are in Ambleside, you don't say hello to every single person, but out on the fells when there's less people about you probably will. If you get somewhere really remote and see another person you'd probably stop and have a chat with them.

I find that mouthing the word "bollox" gets a more interesting response.

I get thanked quite a lot up here in the NE and I have noticed that men are far more likely to do so than women. Whether that is because they are more polite, or simply because they have actually realised you have given way/done them a favour, is debatable. The look on some womens faces says it all ie. I don't care/haven't seen you/I'm busy on the phone 🙄

I have noticed that men are far more likely to do so than women.

Controversial, but probably true

Especially women driving Q5s, X3s etc.... 👿

I have to say driving in London was agreat experience, a question of standing your ground rather than bullying and being rude.
Strangely you can see differences culturally, and here the middle finger is generally used as a sign of appreciation.
Also when on holidays you can call the waiters in Spain "capullo" (ca-poo-yo) as well as camarero.

Tell you what really boils my piss - when someone asks for advice on here, you respond (with what you think is good advice) and they don't even bother to say thank you.

I always say thank youbut I do have a friend who doesn't take the slightest bit of notice of someone being helpful or kind, she just assumes people are being weird if they are nice. Strange way of looking at things. I like being nice, people are usually nice in return then.

People who dont say thanks when you stop for them at zebra crossings annoy me, just a nod or a wave will do, I wind the window down and shout your welcome to them. My son is only two and he always thanks people who stop for us, good manners are free and a little politeness goes a long way.
I have noticed that bikers dont wave as much these days when you move over for them, I rode a bike for 15 years or more and I always thanked people who moved over.

I took my (English) kids to Donegal at easter and they commented how everyone is much friendlier. Strangers say hello, thank you, stop to ask if we needed directions etc.

People who dont say thanks when you stop for them at zebra crossings annoy me

I appreciate a wave at a crossing but I treat it as a Brucie bonus rather than expect it. They have right of way, expecting a 'thanks' would be like expecting a thanks from crossing traffic after I'd had to stop for a red light. When I'm on a crossing I'll usually wave, but because I'm generally amiable rather than out of any sense of obligation.

Still, be boring if we were all the same.

now whenever i see a woman coming i hold the door shut and shout "i dont want you to think i'm sexist!" through the door

That's class!

Peoples behaviour seems to vary from place to place. Where I live folk are generally friendly if you let them out but almost everyone has an inability to signal at roundabouts which is a right pain. I've found that the bigger the town/city the more people seem to hate each other.

I went to London once and it was brutal, I was getting barged about like a skittle on the pavements. I think the trick there is to not try to get out of peoples way but to aggressively stand your ground and slap anyone who gets in your way.

I appreciate a wave at a crossing but I treat it as a Brucie bonus rather than expect it. They have right of way, expecting a 'thanks' would be like expecting a thanks from crossing traffic after I'd had to stop for a red light. When I'm on a crossing I'll usually wave, but because I'm generally amiable rather than out of any sense of obligation.

+1

right of way innit, still... a polite wave and smile makes the world a nicer place.

Whilst on the subject of level crossing I hate the drivers who drive through even though they can see someone waiting. I know in theory the rule is if a foot it on the crossing but someone is going to risk pushing their pushchair into the road to force cars to stop. Cars should be more courteous and if they can see someone waiting stop. This seems to be the minority now though. Half the time however I am not convinced drivers are actually looking for dangers at the side of the road and just what is on their satnav

I took my (South East) kids to Glasgow at easter and they commented how everyone is much friendlier. Strangers say hello, thank you, stop to ask if we needed directions etc. Then I realised they we're all drunk, high on cheap smack or were getting ready to mug me.

I don't think people are actually rude in London, they just have different customs that's all. You might get the hump if you're not used to it I suppose.

I took my (South East) kids to Glasgow at easter and they commented how everyone is much friendlier. Strangers say hello, thank you, stop to ask if we needed directions etc. Then I realised they we're all drunk, high on cheap smack or were getting ready to mug me

'Glasgow was named the murder capital of Europe and Britain's friendliest city all in the same week. You might get stabbed but at least you'll get directions to the hospital' (Kevin Bridges)

Most drivers in Leeds and Harrogate are polite enough. Plenty wave to say thanks and even the Audi drivers leave a couple of feet between their bumper and yours.
Must be a darn sarf ingnorance thing.

Plenty wave to say thanks and even the Audi drivers leave a couple of feet between their bumper and yours.
Must be a darn sarf ingnorance thing.

wtf.......I'm constantly waving at other drivers 😕

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I hate people who don't say thank you but I get annoyed if they dont acknowledge it too