Why are there so many mean people around right now?

[Mrs. Rathji]

Being in the Customer service industry I believe that there are more rude consumer than CSR's. I spend alot of time talking to people who are terribly mean. But I think there are just enough people who take the rudeness to heart that it makes things harder to take. But I agree there are alot of mean people. But if it makes you feel better I try really hard to be really nice to people just to restore their faith in the other people and the service industry.

My advice is just ignore them and move on knowing you are not a mean person. And one day carma will bite them in the butt for being so mean to people.

[EVERLAST]

all of the talk that the media has done in OVERHYPING the recession and getting everybody's backs up about money will pretty much ensure angry people are all over the place. I am so sick of hearing about it. Yeah it has effected me too but I try really hard to change the subject when people dwell on it.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Dion

YOU can't change people. As soon as you make a comment about a persons behaviour they get defensive and thier back goes up plus the comments of don't tell me how to do my job.

Sounds like you're having a bad day? Hope it goes better for you...

You're going to get defensive at that? It's all in how you word it.

Sure i care about a CSR's day. If one is polite to me i have no problem offering compliments, idle chat and have a nice day when the call is finished. Yet for whatever reason i'm supposed to be polite to someone who is rude to me. I tend to hang up and redial with hopes of getting someone different.

Are they being outwardly rude? Or do they just sound impatient? I've never had one come right out and offer a rude comment. I mean really, perhaps what we perceive as being rude is just impatience? I try to be polite all the time, not just to people who "deserve" it.

I can't change the FACT they have a crappy paying job and poor working conditions.That's the comment i get when i do ask. Nor can i change the ATTITUDE some bring to work everyday. It HAS to come from within the person.

You're very right. As an example from my own history, Telus pays quite well so it's not the pay. The working conditions do suck, but generally, it's the people on the other end of the phone that made it suck. How many times can I be asked ######ed questions? I understand you dropped your phone in the toilet the day after you signed a 3 year contract for it, but we will NOT be giving you a new one. That's part of the contract. Yelling at me won't help. It's not MY policy, it's Telus'... Yelling at a CSR for the policy of the company they work for will NOT make them want to help you OR change the company's problem, see? Yet I guarantee that every CSR for every company gets that pretty much all day every day.

If the customers do their part to make the conversation a pleasant one, generally, it will be.

The only times I've ever had to hang up on someone was when they were too stupid to help. Never for having them be rude to me. There's a reason for that.

[rubecube]

I'm cranky because I've met an incredibly large number of self-righteous, cliquey idiots lately.

[missdpuck]

Cliquey? Try hanging out in the lame flirtations thread.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I'm cranky because I've met an incredibly large number of self-righteous, cliquey idiots lately.

You and me both man. Nothing gets me into BS psycho-mode faster than the self-righteous. People too caught up in their own infallible moral/fiscal/social supremacy to realize that they're deluding themselves.

I'm not going to claim any form of innocence, I'm probably as insane as any of them, if not more but as soon as people get on that side of me I make it my personal mission to screw with their perceptions.

Its been happening to me at work, coaching soccer, hell, even on here. Its pushed me farther than I typically go.

I'm the guy sitting behind the desk with the big red meltdown button that reads "DO NOT PUSH" laughing maniacally as I press it repeatedly and sit back, sip a scotch and watch your world burn while the self-righteous stand there helpless and confused.

I must admit though, its been a pretty fun ride so far.

[The Ditch]

People are indignant, I was phoning around getting quotes and rate schedules from companies last week, works been slow, I'm trying to give people business and they are being jerks on the phone to me, I don't get it.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Sounds like you're having a bad day? Hope it goes better for you...

You're going to get defensive at that? It's all in how you word it.

The fact that one can't see the other persons body language, those comments can be taken as being condesending with the person taking offence to the remarks. I get better results with those kind of comments when dealing with someone in person. At least they can see that i'm not being sarcastic with my remarks but moreso generaly concerned with why thier day is so crappy.

Are they being outwardly rude? Or do they just sound impatient? I've never had one come right out and offer a rude comment. I mean really, perhaps what we perceive as being rude is just impatience? I try to be polite all the time, not just to people who "deserve" it.

Both rude and impatient. I get that CSR's have a job to do but why don't they understand when a person says i'm not interested or that i have a better plan already. I'm not interested in getting into a long discussion about the merits of the plan i have as opposed to the one the CSR is trying to promote. I don't know, maybe it's part of the job description to not accept "no" as an answer and to be agressive with the sales pitch.

Then there's the ones that phone during the dinner hour and act surprised when you tell them you are eating.

You're very right. As an example from my own history, Telus pays quite well so it's not the pay. The working conditions do suck, but generally, it's the people on the other end of the phone that made it suck. How many times can I be asked ######ed questions? I understand you dropped your phone in the toilet the day after you signed a 3 year contract for it, but we will NOT be giving you a new one. That's part of the contract. Yelling at me won't help. It's not MY policy, it's Telus'... Yelling at a CSR for the policy of the company they work for will NOT make them want to help you OR change the company's problem, see? Yet I guarantee that every CSR for every company gets that pretty much all day every day.

If the customers do their part to make the conversation a pleasant one, generally, it will be.

The only times I've ever had to hang up on someone was when they were too stupid to help. Never for having them be rude to me. There's a reason for that.

You described one of the many reasons i got out of the service industry. I no longer had any patience for rude behaviour. Got tired of hearing the mantra that the customer is always right and we should treat them that way. The stupidity i could deal with as i always managed to find a way to explain it someone.