18. May 2026

When Did Everyone Become So Self-Centred and Rude?

I’m not saying society has completely collapsed, but some days it does feel like we’re only one badly parked Range Rover away from full civilisation breakdown.

There was a time, not even that long ago, when basic manners were just part of the deal. You held a door open, someone said thank you. Someone was struggling in a supermarket, you helped. You joined the back of a queue because, believe it or not, that’s how queues work. Simple stuff. Nothing too complicated. No need for a TED Talk or a motivational quote on LinkedIn.

Now? Different world.

People park wherever they fancy. Grass verge? That’ll do. Blind corner? Perfect. Pavement? Lovely, especially if someone with a pram or wheelchair has to walk into the road. God forbid anyone has to walk an extra twelve feet from an actual parking space. That would be unreasonable. What are they meant to do, use their legs?

Then there’s the door-holding situation. You hold the door open for someone and they just glide through like royalty entering a banquet hall. No nod, no thanks, nothing. Just a blank expression that says, “Yes, servant, you may now return to your duties.” It’s enough to make you want to let the next door go and hope the universe handles the rest.

Supermarkets are another excellent place to witness the decline of basic human decency. You’ll see an elderly lady trying to reach a tin of beans from the top shelf, practically auditioning for Cirque du Soleil, while three perfectly capable people stand nearby pretending they’ve suddenly become fascinated by pasta sauce. Nobody moves. Nobody helps. Apparently, compassion now requires a written request and possibly a QR code.

And queues. Don’t get me started on queues.

We are British. Queuing is supposed to be one of the few things we still do properly. Yet somehow, even that sacred institution is under attack. People push in at the checkout, push in at the bar, hover sideways pretending they “didn’t realise” there was a queue, despite the fact there are twelve people lined up in a formation visible from space.

Challenge them and that’s when the real performance begins. The look up and down. The sigh. The raised eyebrows. The face that says, “How dare you speak to me?” Well, because you’ve just walked past six people waiting patiently, Karen, and despite what your personalised water bottle might say, the universe does not revolve around your aura.

The weirdest part is how angry everyone seems. Not mildly annoyed. Not having a bad day. Properly angry. Ready to explode because someone dared to mention that parking across a junction might be a bit dangerous. Furious because they’ve been asked to wait their turn. Outraged because someone expected a thank you after basic courtesy.

So what caused it?

Some people blame Covid. The pandemic turned everyone against everyone, apparently. I’m not fully convinced. In my neighbourhood, I actually saw the opposite. People checked in on each other. Shopping was dropped off. Neighbours spoke who had never spoken before. For a while, there was a bit of community spirit. A bit of “we’re all in this together” that didn’t sound like it had been written by a government comms team.

Maybe the cracks were already there.

Maybe the economy has made everyone more stressed. Bills are higher, wages feel tighter, everything costs more, and even a small basket of shopping now requires a quick meeting with your bank manager. People are under pressure. People are tired. People have too much going on in their heads. Work, money, family, health, social media, bad news, endless noise. It all builds up.

But here’s the thing: being stressed doesn’t give you a free pass to be an idiot.

Everyone has problems. Everyone is carrying something. That’s exactly why manners matter. Saying thank you costs nothing. Letting someone go first doesn’t ruin your life. Helping someone reach a tin of beans won’t derail your five-year plan. Parking like you’ve got a functioning brain is not an advanced social skill.

Maybe people haven’t become evil. Maybe they’ve just become too wrapped up in their own little world. Phones in hand, heads full, patience gone, empathy on airplane mode.

But we need to get a grip.

Because if we lose basic courtesy, what’s left? A nation of angry people blocking pavements, barging into queues and staring each other out in Tesco because someone dared to suggest waiting your turn.

And honestly, that sounds exhausting.

So maybe the answer is simple. Say thanks. Hold the door. Help the old lady. Park properly. Wait your turn. Revolutionary stuff, I know.