"...If you think the people around you are rude, impolite and inconsiderate you might take the time to find out how they perceive your attitude..."

That kinda depends. A couple of years ago we were in Skagway, AK, waiting in line in a shop to buy a couple of tee shirts. The clerk was obviously not having a good day with the couple in line ahead of us. The we got to her, and she became one of the friendliest people in the world. Turns out that the other couple were "jerks". Sometimes you get out of a "relationship" what you put in to it...

There is a time and place for most things. I have found that there are only a few rare exceptions when the exercising of manners is a bad idea.

It is best to act barbaric when in the company of barbarians, otherwise, I find that I can attract a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.

I came across this old episode of the Twilight Zone over the weekend and it seems wholely appropriate right now as part of this discussion, it was titled The Shelter, and it looked at what happens to people when the survival instinct is laid bare.

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6258185ETg5NAhw

I do a lot of training of construction workers and flaggers who have to work in the right of way and have daily experiences with road rage. My final point with them is twofold.

Never pick a fight with someone that out-weighs you by more than 2,000 pounds

By using please, thankyou and I am sorry, you can significantly increase you lifespan on this job!!! as it is much tougher to get really mad at someone who is already apologizing to you.

It really is amazing what a difference politeness can make...

I personally subscribe to the "random acts of kindness"... When possible, I try to go out of my way to do something nice for someone I don't know, hoping that it may be passed on to another and another...

Civility flys out the door in many bad situations. Look at New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Actually I found the majority of folks to be extra civil after Katrina. Most knew they were tired and stressed. So when somebody did something "uncivil", rather than reacting in kind, most gave the offending person a lot of slack and did their best to calm the situation. Onlookers did their best to intervene and talk the arguers back to "reality".

There were strong feelings, tensions and many arguments but they quickly resolved and usually with an apology from both sides.

Of course this was not always the case, but by far, it was the most common. Still stress was very evident and only the patient understanding of those involved kept things from escalating out of control.

It was not all similes and roses, but it was not constant open hostility either. Folks did well and deserve credit for their strength and understanding.

This is a topic that I haven't realy thought about untill now, Nomad, thanks for the insight of katrina, as the news only shows the bad things. (think of it, how many times have you heard "shots fired" and how few times do you hear "so and so helped a child find their parents"), only the bad stuff

"I used to think that cops, and retired cops, should be allowed one free kill a year, no questions asked."

Why just cops?

Sue

"...Why just cops?..."

Ya gotta start somewhere. Just a foot in the door so to speak...

I'm pretty sure that anyone in any service industry would appreciate one gimme a year.

To quote the Talking Heads, "I hate people when they're not polite."

From Psycho Killer - appropriately enough.