Do people become this rude every year?

[Bill14564]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

[dewilson58]

Some people have special powers and can specifically identify snowbirds.

:shocked::shocked::shocked:

[camaguey48]

It's me, me, me.

[Wyseguy]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as I was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

It is easy to be cheery, polite and civilised when you live in paradise the whole year. Keep in mind, these people are coming from some very depressing places. Give them a few weeks in Florida. They will get happier.

[davem4616]

It is easy to be cheery, polite and civilised when you live in paradise the whole year. Keep in mind, these people are coming from some very depressing places. Give them a few weeks in Florida. They will get happier.

I agree with what Wyseguy said....

except there are a few here and there that never do calm down.....those are the one's that never learned how to play the game of life in the sandbox growing up

[Two Bills]

Probably locals or all year rounders..
Mistook you for a snowbird!

[Bogie Shooter]

Oh yes, just blame the snowbirds.
There were rude people all summer.

[Bogie Shooter]

Some people have special powers and can specifically identify snowbirds.

:shocked::shocked::shocked:

👍…👍

[Bill14564]

Some people have special powers and can specifically identify snowbirds.

:shocked::shocked::shocked:

Please, don't misunderstand, I have no clue whether the rudeness was coming from snowbirds. (an earlier draft included that statement, I should have left it in) In fact, I suspect it isn't the snowbirds who are rude, I suspect it is the full-timers who are frustrated and impatient.

In some way we (I'm a full-timer now) should be grateful for the snowbirds... if they didn't leave around April then we would have this crowding all year.

No, I wasn't accusing snowbirds of being rude, I was just noticing that the rudeness increased as the snowbirds returned.

[tophcfa]

Problem is most likely not snowbirds, but rather with the curmudgeon full timers who are suddenly upset that they have to share the Villages with the seasonal residents. The people walking around with big smiles on their faces are the ones that are elated to finally be back at their second homes.

[dewilson58]

Please, don't misunderstand, I have no clue whether the rudeness was coming from snowbirds. (an earlier draft included that statement, I should have left it in) In fact, I suspect it isn't the snowbirds who are rude, I suspect it is the full-timers who are frustrated and impatient.

In some way we (I'm a full-timer now) should be grateful for the snowbirds... if they didn't leave around April then we would have this crowding all year.

No, I wasn't accusing snowbirds of being rude, I was just noticing that the rudeness increased as the snowbirds returned.
:coolsmiley::coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

[alwann]

Studies estimate 1 in 7 seniors citizens have some form of undiagnosed dementia that affects their personality. In The Villages, surely this fact has to account for some of the rudeness, crudeness, stalking, bad parking, domestic violence and strange attire worn at Walmart. :icon_wink:

[Mortal1]

You'll get some rudeness anytime, but the denser the population the more issues with some folks. Just brush it off as you know too well that no matter where you go or live you're bound to run into talking turds. That's life.

Won't go to Disney anymore due to the crowds and ill mannered people of poor upbringing(ie: no common sense or etiquette).

[n8xwb]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as I was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

[DAVES]

My view, no one is perfect except me. People who know me might have a different opinion than mine.

Snowbirds, golf carts and frankly walkers, bike riders and all the other things posters complain about. It is not your job to teach others they are wrong. You job is, should be that everyone gets home in one piece. You should be aware of everyone around you.
You should be aware how aware they are. You communicate to others by your body language that includes your driving.

Accident? The best ones are the ones that do not happen.

[DAVES]

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

Child psychology at around age two you become are that there are other people and things besides yourself. For too many they never made that leap.

[Bogie Shooter]

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

Good point.:wave:

[Bill14564]

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

You must be right, IATA. In front of the keyboard I complain about people parking in fire lanes, honking at non-issues, and making rude comments while the whole time I feel I am special and feel it is okay for me to inconvenience others and do those very things. Yep, that's me, the one with the golf cart long enough to block the entire entrance

[Calisport]

I agree. Loading people or the car in front of the store is inconsiderate. Maybe this isn't what you were doing.
This reminds me of small towns in Greece. If someone wants a parking space they drive in front of incoming traffic, park, get out of the car parked the wrong direction...while the oncoming lane is completely blocked/stopped. Unbelievable.

[Laker14]

My suggestions:
1. Keep smiling and you will get smiles back.
2. Tomorrow, try to keep track of all of the unsolicited smiles you receive.
IMO, if we run into 20 smiling faces, and one jerk, we tend to spend an inordinate amount of mental anguish on the jerk.

[fdpaq0580]

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

Sadly, most of us are pretty good at finding the faults in others. All the while being woefully unaware of our own missteps and transgressions. If I ever make a wrong move or a poor choice there is a little voice in my head that let's me know I screwed up. My answer to that voice is a simple, "yes dear.".

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.
No comment, I really can't visualize why the person would honk.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.
If the gate is open, they would have stopped before passing through it, and once on the other side, they aren't required to stop. It sounds like he stopped - just in the wrong lane. But he did stop, and was doing what he was supposed to be doing. His honk was probably to urge the golf cart to hurry and get out of the way since the car driver had already done their job and it was their turn. When everyone takes their turn, traffic runs smoothly.


- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as I was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.
I don't know why they'd push your WIFE out of the way while YOU were looking at turkey breasts, unless she was blocking everyone else from something. Is it possible that she had been just standing in front of something SHE wasn't trying to decide on, and not giving any indication that she was paying attention to someone standing there trying to get where she was? I mean, I totally would've said, loudly, "EXCUSE ME I'm trying to get over there" and wouldn't have tried to push her with my cart. But consider that other people might want to be where your wife was, and if she was oblivious - she'd have to accept that eventually someone is going to do or say something to nudge her along.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

As someone else said - Publix doesn't have a loading zone. The front curb of their store is for customers to move themselves, their shopping carts, wheelchairs, electric scooter-things that the store offers, in and out of the store. It is not for motor vehicles. It's possible you were blocking a wheelchair ramp, in which case they were absolutely right in saying something about it.

There are people in the store who are -paid- to get your groceries to their customers' cars in the parking lot. And they have electric scooters with baskets to help their less mobile customers get around. There is zero reason, whatsoever, for any car, truck, or van, to be stopped at the curb directly outside the store.

[Bill14564]

No comment, I really can't visualize why the person would honk.


If the gate is open, they would have stopped before passing through it, and once on the other side, they aren't required to stop. It sounds like he stopped - just in the wrong lane. But he did stop, and was doing what he was supposed to be doing. His honk was probably to urge the golf cart to hurry and get out of the way since the car driver had already done their job and it was their turn. When everyone takes their turn, traffic runs smoothly.


I don't know why they'd push your WIFE out of the way while YOU were looking at turkey breasts, unless she was blocking everyone else from something. Is it possible that she had been just standing in front of something SHE wasn't trying to decide on, and not giving any indication that she was paying attention to someone standing there trying to get where she was? I mean, I totally would've said, loudly, "EXCUSE ME I'm trying to get over there" and wouldn't have tried to push her with my cart. But consider that other people might want to be where your wife was, and if she was oblivious - she'd have to accept that eventually someone is going to do or say something to nudge her along.


As someone else said - Publix doesn't have a loading zone. The front curb of their store is for customers to move themselves, their shopping carts, wheelchairs, electric scooter-things that the store offers, in and out of the store. It is not for motor vehicles. It's possible you were blocking a wheelchair ramp, in which case they were absolutely right in saying something about it.

There are people in the store who are -paid- to get your groceries to their customers' cars in the parking lot. And they have electric scooters with baskets to help their less mobile customers get around. There is zero reason, whatsoever, for any car, truck, or van, to be stopped at the curb directly outside the store.

Please see post #18. I was wrong; my eyes lied to me and clearly I passed that lie along in the original post. I am the entitled one, IATA. Thank you to those who have helped me see the reality of things.

[Garywt]

Rude people have been rude their entire life. Rules and order in ones life don’t apply to these people. No amount of time in The Villages will cure them.

[Debfrommaine]

Rude people have been rude their entire life. Rules and order in ones life don’t apply to these people. No amount of time in The Villages will cure them.

Agree, people are who they are in The Villages or not.

[fdpaq0580]

Rude people have been rude their entire life. Rules and order in ones life don’t apply to these people. No amount of time in The Villages will cure them.

Sad, but very, very true. What is even sadder is the ones that are totally unaware of the fact that they are being rude.

[jchase]

I think people think to much about nothing, don’t have much to do. Enjoy yourself and don’t worry about it!

[Fredman]

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

You hit the nail on the head. I guess if you sit in the drivers seat you aren’t considered parked. DUH

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Please see post #18. I was wrong; my eyes lied to me and clearly I passed that lie along in the original post. I am the entitled one, IATA. Thank you to those who have helped me see the reality of things.

Passive-aggressive defensiveness is not attractive.

You asked a question and laid out specifics of your concern. You received some possible explanations, no one actually *accused* you of wrong-doing. Your comment in post #18 about parking your golf cart long enough to obscure the entire entrance was the clue that you're just throwing snark down.

MY post specified that MAYBE you were blocking the wheelchair ramp. In addition, it doesn't matter. It's not a loading zone, you're not supposed to stop there. It's a crosswalk. It doesn't matter if you're taking up the entire crosswalk, or just 4 inches of it. You're not supposed to do it.

If you get defensive over someone suggesting that MAYBE you did something you weren't supposed to do, then you might want to ask yourself why you're always seeing rude people.

[tjlee500]

You must by psychic

[Hifred]

We live in The Villages year round. I agree whole heartedly that once the car carriers start bringing in the out of state cars the roads get more crowded and the lines at stores and restaurants increase. I also noticed that rudeness increases at least 100%. In the summer people smile and say hi. In the winter people vie to be ahead of others. If I take a vacation, I tend to do so in the winter as I have found it to be my least favorite time to live in The Villages.

[midiwiz]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

.


Seriously???? There isn't a single minute of a single day that you won't find something anywhere that someone will whine about. That's just a fact of life. not location, age, or anything else.

[Luggage]

Don't blame me, I hold the door open for people still. But honestly I would say a lot of the people feel their entitled and feel their special because they are a "villagers" . We once went on a cruise and for divorced or single woman by death stop talking to us cuz we didn't live in the right place. I would have to say they are mostly rude until you meet a few nice ones of which they are certainly several here. ( Janet ,Carl, Al) you guys know who you are.

[Luggage]

There are a lot of AAA personalities that still don't get it that they are retired. They are in a rush to get to the next golf game or poker tournament or bridge . I got honked as I was pushing my car to get out of the parking Lane so he can get by a 30 miles an hour yesterday . I still don't get why they speed in the parking lots here especially the golf carters who don't understand if they get hit by a car they will probably be dead

[John-US]

For a senior village, y'all seem to be in a hurry for some reason. :1rotfl:

Lastly, Can someone explain to me why the villages doctors office is so crowded, yet we have a parking lot full of FL tags sporting' in god we trust' - are we confusing religion with science again?

[frank1975]

You need to chill and just expect this crap to happen. I see it all year long.

[MandoMan]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

In large parts of North America—indeed most of it—politeness, thoughtfulness, and patience are engrained. It’s just how people are. They can wait an extra couple seconds. There;s no big hurry. There are a few areas—generally crowded, but not all crowded places—where there is little patience with delay or indecisiveness. People are expected to be ready, to know what they want, to get what they need and go. This is what prevents chaos. For example, in New York City, a tourist from Pennsylvania who refuses to edge across a busy street in a car or push into a turn after a light changes holds up dozens of cars behind. If people stand outside a subway car unsure of whether to enter, some other people are blocked and may miss their train, and this may disrupt their entire evening.

There are a lot of different cultures in this country. In some cultures, honking is not only acceptable but nearly required. Think for a minute about American cultures. If your family has lived in, say, Beatrice, Nebraska, for a century, a huge amount of how you see the world is culturally conditioned. In so many ways, you react the way your grandparents did to whatever happens. And if you move to The Villages, your speed of doing things meshes with that of a large percentage of villagers. But what if your family has lived in, say, Brooklyn or Long Island for a century? Even in 1860, New York and it’s environs were teeming with activity. It hasn’t gotten better. People got off the ships, found rooms and jobs as quickly as possible, worked long hours in thousands of businesses, then rushed through the crowds to get home for dinner and a fight with the family. “Time is money” was burned into the brain. Children and grandchildren inherited it, along with many other traits and accents. It’s a large part of the reason why the city has thrived, even though it’s also sort of a long-term trauma that damages the brain, like multiple concussions.

This way of reacting to events is not changed in a few days as people unwind. It’s a part of one’s being. It gets better, but it can take years. And if your culture considers honking a way of saying “pay attention,” who teaches you that it isn’t acceptable? And who are they to decide? Have you ever listened to someone speak with a very slow Southern drawl and wondered if they think as slowly as they speak? Like their minds as well as their tongues are wading through molasses? Or you hear people from New York or some similar place talking so fast you can’t follow them? You wonder if they can think as fast as they speak, and you find it exhausting.

I lived for decades in rural Pennsylvania, but after a year here, while I try to be polite, I find that I’m still in a hurry and impatient with indecisiveness and a failure to pay attention and an inability to gauge the speed of traffic and merge. And yet I’m incapable of driving in New York City! I seem like a hopeless oaf to them, and that’s the way some people here seem to me.

Add to that a level of pent-up anger a lot of us seem to have, even though we love it here. I’m not sure why that is. Still, I’ve seen more people in vehicles here giving the finger to other people in vehicles in one year than I’ve seen in the rest of my life combined. It’s as if a lot of us old guys are spoiling for a fight—and I’m definitely not.

So in brief, if it’s rudeness, it’s come by honestly, and it isn’t easy to eliminate. If people are rude to you somewhere, ask yourself what could have led to that, whether it’s because of their upbringing and culture, rather than because they are offensive people. Maybe you yourself are being selfish, getting in people’s way, not thinking, doing what you are used to doing instead of paying attention. That happens around here, and it doesn’t get better with age.

[RBW225]

That attitude you described is one of the main reasons we moved to a small town in South Carolina.

[JMintzer]

You must be right, IATA. In front of the keyboard I complain about people parking in fire lanes, honking at non-issues, and making rude comments while the whole time I feel I am special and feel it is okay for me to inconvenience others and do those very things. Yep, that's me, the one with the golf cart long enough to block the entire entrance

First rule of holes: When in a hole, stop digging...

[JMintzer]

Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

I believe the "woke" term is "bagperson"... Or maybe "person of bag"...

Well, it's something like those... :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[rrtjp]

Lol

[La lamy]

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

Totally agree with you. I've never been 'rude' to people who feel they are in the right to inconvenience others with this practice, but inside I sure think "how selfishly inconsiderate". If it is an ability issue there are plenty other ways to get the groceries home or to car without idling in the street.

[gettingby]

Smile, wave, wish them a good day. Don’t let them live in your head, it’s not worth it.

[rrtjp]

Rudeness does not discriminate, you can be any color. race, religion or snowbird and be rude. LOL.

[aces_04]

I hear complaints of long lines, slow workers, asking why isn’t there more employees. The rudeness is uncalled for. Maybe shopping at a different time would the solution.

[Villages Kahuna]

Maybe 3 months, not 5. But the answer is Yes. But remember, they pay the taxes you don’t have to pay as a Florida resident. It’s a good time of the year to hang around the house, catch up on reading, and just “stay out of their way”.

[Rzepecki]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

I ignore or just plain don’t notice rudeness. If I do, I just try to be nicer, but, I choose to wake up in a good mood every morning and not let anyone’s rudeness affect me. Just my/one way.

[Jdburns11]

Once read a book with some very sage advice…. “Don’t take anything personally”…. Let people stew in their own poison, their own toxin… their actions can only impact your world if you let them — do not let them spread their unhappiness on to you and your family/friends or the way you treat people every day.

Separately, I try to respond with the complete opposite (not that I have always done this) in terms of kindness or compassion - in 1) it’s the right thing to do, and 2) that it may shed some light on their own boorish behavior (maybe not likely).

Book credit: The Four Agreements, (Don Miguel Ruiz)

Respectfully, D B

[sallyg]

Cars passing on the right, into the diamond (or golf cart lane) is very dangerous and illegal. As the population increases so does incidents of dangerous driving, impatience etc. I doubt snowbirds are the only guilty parties. Please everyone, drive safely, and do not pass on the right.

[Bill1701]

There have always been rude drivers here, as well as everywhere else. As far as the Publix incident goes, yes, there is a time limit to stand and block others from getting something. Pick one and move on.

[CaptainMeso]

Wow what a perfect diplomatic response you make here Bill after some nasty folks couldn’t resist taking offense to your post when we all know what you mean. BTW, they’re probably the ones you are referring to. 🤔

[rjn5656]

Hate to say it is not just snowbirds.

[Bay Kid]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

Who is the problem?

[toeser]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.


I think it's rude to lay this all on snowbirds.

[LateBoomer]

i do notice that cars can often be rude when you are approaching what is usually a very short merge zone with your cart. I too wonder why retired people can be so rude and impatient. I moved up here and I swear my blood pressure dropped immediately and I lost 10 pounds. I'm thrilled to be retired and happier for it. I wish more people adopted that attitude, we would all be happier.

But I"m not certain the problem is the snowbirds directly. We did notice this week a significant uptick in traffic on the major roads and yes, it can be annoying to anyone, snowbird or otherwise. but again, why is everyone in such a HUGE hurry?

THAT BEING SAID. Rudeness is not unique to TV. It's far worse in the other cities in Florida. I lived in one 14 years. FAR worse

I also agree that you shouldn't be doing loading in what is clear a pedestrian and shopping cart area in front of the grocery store. that in and of itself is sorta rude. Is it too difficult to push your cart to your car?

[Debi-G]

Some people have special powers and can specifically identify snowbirds.

:shocked::shocked::shocked:
I have lived here a year now, and I have found many whom I have come to know as long- time residents and are just as, if not more so, rude than visitors. Sadly, some do not live up to our reputation of this being the friendliest place on Earth. We live in Paradise people~! Life is short, BE HAPPY and nice.

[DaleDivine]

i do notice that cars can often be rude when you are approaching what is usually a very short merge zone with your cart. I too wonder why retired people can be so rude and impatient. I moved up here and I swear my blood pressure dropped immediately and I lost 10 pounds. I'm thrilled to be retired and happier for it. I wish more people adopted that attitude, we would all be happier.

But I"m not certain the problem is the snowbirds directly. We did notice this week a significant uptick in traffic on the major roads and yes, it can be annoying to anyone, snowbird or otherwise. but again, why is everyone in such a HUGE hurry?

THAT BEING SAID. Rudeness is not unique to TV. It's far worse in the other cities in Florida. I lived in one 14 years. FAR worse

I also agree that you shouldn't be doing loading in what is clear a pedestrian and shopping cart area in front of the grocery store. that in and of itself is sorta rude. Is it too difficult to push your cart to your car?

I see this happen a lot when it's pouring down rain.
:ohdear::ohdear:

[DaleDivine]

You must be right, IATA. In front of the keyboard I complain about people parking in fire lanes, honking at non-issues, and making rude comments while the whole time I feel I am special and feel it is okay for me to inconvenience others and do those very things. Yep, that's me, the one with the golf cart long enough to block the entire entrance

After 2 years you should know that these people sitting at home with cabin fever are going tear you apart if you post any complaints on here.
:bigbow::bigbow:

[Professor]

Unfortunately this is not a snowbird behavior alone, Villagers have gotten to be rude as well. This is not a local phenomenon either, it seems to be a trend all over the country. Many individuals seem to think they are entitled to do whatever it is they please and not be concerned that their actions might upset or inconvenience someone else. Just selfish individuals in my opinion. Hope I never get to be that rude and thoughtless to others...

[billethkid]

Hate to say it is not just snowbirds.

100% correct.

And the other fact worth reminding is the "rudies" are in the minority. Most of the rest of us get along just fine.

I find ignoring them works best.

[joseppe]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

That's just People being People. More People = More Rudeness

[Beyond The Wall]

You could always move back to NY in you think it’s rude in TV

[Debi-G]

Problem is most likely not snowbirds, but rather with the curmudgeon full timers who are suddenly upset that they have to share the Villages with the seasonal residents. The people walking around with big smiles on their faces are the ones that are elated to finally be back at their second homes.

I absolutely agree. I have gone to three of the recreational pools a half an hour early recently and have been too late to sign in and be able to join in water aerobics. I have been told that I will need to get there and hour early to beat the snow birds. I will not.... I will walk or ride my bike as my method of exercise, until they go back to their homes. Although this is very frustrating to me it is something that I never realized when I was a snow bird coming here for 5 years, before we finally moved here. I was always so happy when we came to visit. And for the most part, everyone that I met was happy and friendly. Albeit, I am agitated at being booted out of an activity that I enjoy (but not enough to get there an hour early and wait). I will still smile and be friendly to those who want to enjoy our Paradise here, too. They only get to share it for a short time. We are here every day, for life.

[merrymini]

Oh those terrible snowbirds, rude, ignorant and stupid. They must wear signs on themselves for identification so locals, who come from some place else, recognize them and run in fear. Really?

[OhioBuckeye]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

Welcome to America! Just because it’s a retirement community doesn’t mean you’re in heaven. Rudeness is in every city!

[Velvet]

We live in The Villages year round. I agree whole heartedly that once the car carriers start bringing in the out of state cars the roads get more crowded and the lines at stores and restaurants increase. I also noticed that rudeness increases at least 100%. In the summer people smile and say hi. In the winter people vie to be ahead of others. If I take a vacation, I tend to do so in the winter as I have found it to be my least favorite time to live in The Villages.

That seems like a perfect answer - if you don’t like to be in TV when it is crowded, just leave. Take a lovely vacation wherever you would like to be.

As far as honking goes, if you are doing the appropriate thing, just ignore it. How another person feels is their problem, in my opinion.

[LG999]

Yes, rudeness has been increasing every year for a few years now. I have experienced similar situations to those you described.

Rudeness on this site has increased as you probably noticed from last year.

[PaulUnderwood]

As my uncle Charley once told me what’s the sense of being ignorant if you don’t show me it.

[waltwl]

not as many

[Michael G.]

To me rudeness in todays society raises a CAUTION! flag with me, here's why.

Nobody knows what could happen if that person is aggravated enough to have a weapon
on them.

Just not worth taking chances

[cafw1]

i absolutely agree. I have gone to three of the recreational pools a half an hour early recently and have been too late to sign in and be able to join in water aerobics. I have been told that i will need to get there and hour early to beat the snow birds. I will not.... I will walk or ride my bike as my method of exercise, until they go back to their homes. Although this is very frustrating to me it is something that i never realized when i was a snow bird coming here for 5 years, before we finally moved here. I was always so happy when we came to visit. And for the most part, everyone that i met was happy and friendly. Albeit, i am agitated at being booted out of an activity that i enjoy (but not enough to get there an hour early and wait). I will still smile and be friendly to those who want to enjoy our paradise here, too. They only get to share it for a short time. We are here every day, for life.
there is a difference between ''seasonal residents'' and ''snowbirds''. A seasonal resident is an owner who pays the same in fees and in a lot of cases they pay higher property taxes than full time residents because they don't claim florida residency but they only use the facilities part time and don't rent their house when they aren't using it. So in my estimation they are ''paying but not using'' which helps out the full time residents. I do resent people who rent out their homes to ''snowbirds'' and basically run a business where people are on vacation --paying for a rental unit and copiously use everything that's available. Because there is such heavy use things need more maintenance and replacement. I personally feel that ''owners'' should have priority in activities and should not have to wait in line. There must be some way that ''owners'' can get some long overdue rights.

[kendi]

Best when focus is on keeping self positive and friendly. Don’t worry about the others.

[Velvet]

To me rudeness in todays society raises a CAUTION! flag with me, here's why.

Nobody knows what could happen if that person is aggravated enough to have a weapon
on them.

Just not worth taking chances

Yes, but what if the person you are rude to also has a gun? I somehow think it is wrong to ever assume one has the upper hand.

Miss Manners wrote a book on how to show consideration to others and how to get along, in order to make a happier society. Too bad it is not taught in schools these days.

[daddymac1127]

That's just People being People. More People = More Rudeness

Just remember a leopard never changes its spots.

Also, The Villages slogan is "the friendliest hometown". That doesn't mean that everyone is friendly.

In this day and age, it really doesn't take alot to be the "friendliest".

we are an elderly community. That being said, we can sometime have more bad days than good.

It is very comforting that we do try to live up to The Villages motto as much as we can.

[Curtisbwp]

Well, some people are just miserable!! They are jerks no matter where they live. Be thankful you do not live every they live.

[RICH1]

YES, I am Very aggressive in the Chicken Breast area of the meat counter..., Have you seen the price of Beef... People are molesting the chicken breasts not giving any thought about other shoppers.. Lets have a countdown when the majority head back north! keep the fire lane clear!

[Two Bills]

YES, I am Very aggressive in the Chicken Breast area of the meat counter..., Have you seen the price of Beef... People are molesting the chicken breasts not giving any thought about other shoppers.. Lets have a countdown when the majority head back north! keep the fire lane clear!

B****Y perverts are everywhere!:icon_wink:

[Velvet]

Well, some people are just miserable!! They are jerks no matter where they live. Be thankful you do not live every they live.

It made me think that what if the snowbird owners, for example, said, “You know what? I like the quiet time, tee time, pickle ball time too. Why don’t you guys who were enjoying it all summer just go somewhere else so I can enjoy quiet time while I am here. Even if I do pay for services when I am not here. That would only be fair.”

[joelfmi]

At least you were a few blocks for the noise of the Florida throughway or you did not have to put up with very noise renter which is one of the many negative's living in this community.

[Bogie Shooter]

At least you were a few blocks for the noise of the Florida throughway or you did not have to put up with very noise renter which is one of the many negative's living in this community.

I95 stills runs north………….



BTW it’s called the Florida Turnpike?

[Gpsma]

I95 stills runs north………….



BTW it’s called the Florida Turnpike?

Actually...Florida’S Turnpike

[wisbad1]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.
Your last comment tipped me off to your attitude. Why are you special that you can block road load stuff? Go to parking lot like everyone else. Thanks

[JMintzer]

At least you were a few blocks for the noise of the Florida throughway or you did not have to put up with very noise renter which is one of the many negative's living in this community.

Good thing there are no noisy full timers...

[MDLNB]

Just a recent experience that I had while shopping at Wally World last Friday. Knowing that there would be a few more shoppers due to the snowbirds returning to their Southern, winter migration homes, I thought I was sneaking in at a good time to shop. Not so fast. When I arrived at WallyWorld, I discovered it packed reminiscent of Black Friday. Wall to wall shopping carts. I absolutely hate crowds but my wife gave me the shopping list and my orders. Always in a hurry when tasked with shopping, I was impatient. However, what I did notice is how friendly almost EVERYONE was, even with having to wait for slow shoppers to move on down each row. Being tall, I was asked several (many) times to reach higher shelves for the vertically challenged. I discovered my smile that eventually froze on my face as I assisted others. Everything was cool and copacetic. Someone mentioned that smiles are contagious and they are correct.
Welcome back. Hope you all enjoy the open freedom we have in Florida, during these trying times. Life is great in The Villages.

[DonnaNi4os]

No matter where you are from, there are rude people everywhere. The pandemic took its toll on everyone and the uncertainty of what’s next is stressful. For the most part, people have a kind heart. I have met some of the nicest people since I moved here four years ago from NJ. When I do run into someone who I find rude, I walk away from confrontation and take a deep breath. Believe it or not, there are rude people that are here year round. Absolutely, the next several months may be more congested than usual but they have the right to be here. Were you ever a snowbird I wonder? I am looking forward to seeing the snowbird friends I have made over these years, especially my neighbor.

[mike1946]

Well it's good to know that none of this rudeness applies to us Brits ...the USA won't let us in and that has applied since April 2020 so I can't get to my house even though I pay taxes and amenities etc. My car in in the garage - I lapsed the insurance 'cos no one is driving it and the insurance company were gouging me - then the DMV suspended my DL and said I would have to pay $150 to get it back (incidently is it possible to suspend a licence that has expired ?) If anyone has aright to be grumpy it's me ...but I'm not I'm just desperate to get back to TV - Paradise on earth if only you guys knew it !!!

[MorTech]

It made me think that what if the snowbird owners, for example, said, “You know what? I like the quiet time, tee time, pickle ball time too. Why don’t you guys who were enjoying it all summer just go somewhere else so I can enjoy quiet time while I am here. Even if I do pay for services when I am not here. That would only be fair.”

I am considering doing airbnb in Mexico during high season :)
Too crowded and cold here in Winter.

[wamley]

One of the best posts ever.

[Kgcetm]

Every year and about this same time. Ive noticed that it
gets better after The new year and is completely back to normal by March 1st. Amazing.

[Two Bills]

One of the best posts ever.

Thanks!:icon_wink:

[Bogie Shooter]

One of the best posts ever.

Thanks!:icon_wink:

:1rotfl::1rotfl:

[rrtjp]

A snowbird countdown app for your iPhone, LOL.

[jessiem28@yahoo.com]

Be careful out there while in your cart, a car flew pass me as I was coming over even with blinkers and hand signal. Flew up to the gate and just missed a cart waiting to come across in front of the gate.

[JMintzer]

I am considering doing airbnb in Mexico during high season :)
Too crowded and cold here in Winter.

Yeah, I'm sure Mexico isn't crowded in the Winter... :icon_wink:

[Fltpkr]

Be careful out there while in your cart, a car flew pass me as I was coming over even with blinkers and hand signal. Flew up to the gate and just missed a cart waiting to come across in front of the gate.

I understood that the cart must give way to auto traffic at the entrances. Is that incorrect? If not, maybe it was the cart that barely missed the car?

[BrianNotFromNYC]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

A few of these could also be, you. Maybe while your wife was examining each turkey, you were oblivious that between her and your cart, you had no clue someone behind you was waiting patiently since you hogged up the isle?

Who sits in a car "in drive" (huh, why) then sits in a no parking lane (I guess you must think parking in drive is not parking?) and waits while someone? loads your groceries? You pushed the cart around the store, but the last 100 feet to your car was too much, so you drove to a no parking area, blocked traffic in a pedestrian area, and wonder why " a snowbird? You knew, they have special badges?) who had to walk around your self entitled illegal parking made a snide comment. Takes two.

The ones with carts and cars honking make no sense, but hey, maybe their wings were clipped and like geese on the golf course, felt the need to honk. Maybe at you, we shall never know.

[Bethwill]

Certainly hope so.

[Bill14564]

A few of these could also be, you. Maybe while your wife was examining each turkey, you were oblivious that between her and your cart, you had no clue someone behind you was waiting patiently since you hogged up the isle?

Who sits in a car "in drive" (huh, why) then sits in a no parking lane (I guess you must think parking in drive is not parking?) and waits while someone? loads your groceries? You pushed the cart around the store, but the last 100 feet to your car was too much, so you drove to a no parking area, blocked traffic in a pedestrian area, and wonder why " a snowbird? You knew, they have special badges?) who had to walk around your self entitled illegal parking made a snide comment. Takes two.

The ones with carts and cars honking make no sense, but hey, maybe their wings were clipped and like geese on the golf course, felt the need to honk. Maybe at you, we shall never know.

I see you are relatively new here. As you get more experience you may find that it is useful to read previous replies to see if your questions/comments have already been addressed. In this case you might want to look at replies #9, #18, and #23.

Regarding stopping with my foot on the brake, this is the best way to keep the vehicle motionless while a passenger (wife in this case) puts two bags in the back and then gets into the vehicle. I wasn't parked (engine off, driver out of the vehicle) and I wasn't standing (driver in the vehicle with transmission in park with the intent of staying a while). I was motionless (with my foot on the brake) for the short amount of time to pick up a passenger.

Is waiting in a marked parking spot for someone to exit a store and then driving over to pick them up truly that egregious here in FL? It was a common practice, and even considered courteous, back in the part of MD I came from.

For those who believe they have the skills to know what was going on in my head, that I believe I am entitled, or that I feel fee to inconvenience others, don't quit your day jobs.

[mabreyjk]

Yes.

My wife is in the food service business and she will say, YES.

[JMintzer]

IIs waiting in a marked parking spot for someone to exit a store and then driving over to pick them up truly that egregious here in FL? It was a common practice, and even considered courteous, back in the part of MD I came from.

Hey! Don't bring us into this... YOYO here, Bud...

[TNLAKEPANDA]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.



- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

We now live in a Woke Society…. The Villages is no longer a Small Town Community… it is a major city with people from all over the country. Both Crime and Rudeness will continue to be on the rise!

[goodwillie]

You can't blame snowbirds for rudeness. There is plenty of it year round from full time villagers. It seems to have gotten worse with all the growth.







This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

[Ski Bum]

My only comment is to your last paragraph about loading your car in front of a Publix in The Villages. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, I don't believe Publix has a dedicated "loading zone" in front of any of their stores, perhaps I am mistaken. So, since there is no such zone, YES you are inconveniencing EVERY car that has to pull around your car AND every shopper leaving or entering the store who has to go around your car. So maybe you can tell me why you feel it is OK for you to do this? Do you feel you have some kind of special need, or right? Is there some reason you feel you shouldn't park your car and push your grocery cart to that location? Oh, and I might add, that a Publix bagboy (for lack of a better word) will gladly push your loaded cart to your car, unload the cart, and return the cart to the store!

Maybe I am missing something??

No way that I am standing behind my car in front of a store. Good way to lose your legs!

[ThirdOfFive]

Just remember a leopard never changes its spots.

Also, The Villages slogan is "the friendliest hometown". That doesn't mean that everyone is friendly.

In this day and age, it really doesn't take alot to be the "friendliest".

we are an elderly community. That being said, we can sometime have more bad days than good.

It is very comforting that we do try to live up to The Villages motto as much as we can.
Good points. Rudeness begets rudeness, whereas a smile and a wave often elicits the same out of someone who looks grouchy enough to bite the back end out of a bear.

I've long maintained that the reason people are so ready to talk about rude people is that, by and large, most Villagers are NOT rude people. The ones who are stand out because of the fact that they are so rare. I counted 181 golf carts using the path on my walk one day last week. Precisely two were rude; one who refused to move over and came uncomfortably close to me, and another one who chucked an empty soft-drink can into the ditch in full view of myself and the people in another cart. Two, out of 181. But I remember the two far more than the other 179. Rudeness was far more prevalent where I come from than it is down here.

[OhioBuckeye]

Well, some people are just miserable!! They are jerks no matter where they live. Be thankful you do not live every they live.

You’re right Curtisbwp! There’s all walks of life in TV from all over the world. Basically 99% of the people were very nice! You’ll figure out where the nice people hang out & where not to hang out. Me personally I shot a lot pool (billiard) & to me you couldn’t find a nicer bunch of people!

[Two Bills]

Smile: A Poem by Spike Milligan

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized
I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected.

[John Mayes]

Just a recent experience that I had while shopping at Wally World last Friday. Knowing that there would be a few more shoppers due to the snowbirds returning to their Southern, winter migration homes, I thought I was sneaking in at a good time to shop. Not so fast. When I arrived at WallyWorld, I discovered it packed reminiscent of Black Friday. Wall to wall shopping carts. I absolutely hate crowds but my wife gave me the shopping list and my orders. Always in a hurry when tasked with shopping, I was impatient. However, what I did notice is how friendly almost EVERYONE was, even with having to wait for slow shoppers to move on down each row. Being tall, I was asked several (many) times to reach higher shelves for the vertically challenged. I discovered my smile that eventually froze on my face as I assisted others. Everything was cool and copacetic. Someone mentioned that smiles are contagious and they are correct.
Welcome back. Hope you all enjoy the open freedom we have in Florida, during these trying times. Life is great in The Villages.

Nice post and great attitude!!!!

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Before Covid I alternated the 3 winter months between Miami Beach , Hawaii and Thailand yearly . Do you know what I found when I got there, I’ll tell you , lots of people on vacations., crowded restaurants, lots of traffic , it’s the same everywhere , just relax , have a drink at the bar and smile at people because you know even most grumpy and rude people brighten up when you smile at them ( most likely headed back to Hawaii and Thailand for a couple of months at least this winter)

[fdpaq0580]

Before Covid I alternated the 3 winter months between Miami Beach , Hawaii and Thailand yearly . Do you know what I found when I got there, I’ll tell you , lots of people on vacations., crowded restaurants, lots of traffic , it’s the same everywhere , just relax , have a drink at the bar and smile at people because you know even most grumpy and rude people brighten up when you smile at them ( most likely headed back to Hawaii and Thailand for a couple of months at least this winter)

Travel safely and return in one piece.
Now, get off my lawn!! 😄😄😄

[The Caretaker]

Friendliest home town is fading away. I call it the I HAVE ARRIVED SYNDROME.

[beccaboo**]

Sorry for your experience, but I believe positive and negative human behavior is found everywhere. The Villages has been our second home since 2018. One of the many reasons we selected this as home, was the wonderful folks we met here in our four earlier years of renting.
We recently had to make an unexpected, emergency trip back North. As our friends found out, that day we had 3 very thoughtful offers to drive us to MCO for our flight. Looking at our Villages, we are thankful for the kindness of both friends and strangers.
Hope you find such individuals to grace you lives here as well.



This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

[golfing eagles]

I understood that the cart must give way to auto traffic at the entrances. Is that incorrect? If not, maybe it was the cart that barely missed the car?

Yes, you are incorrect. AT THE GATES, carts crossing have a stop sign and the cars have the right of way. And as such, it would be better if car drivers did not play traffic cop and wave carts across---driving the car you have the right of way--just take it, things work better that way. HOWEVER, at the merge point PRIOR to the gate, the right of way is determined by position. You will note that each merge has a sign that states "carts merging ahead, 20 mph." So if a cart is far enough ahead of a car, say 100 feet, the car should not be closing in even an inch on a cart going 20. Unfortunately, some car drivers think they ALWAYS have the right of way, they've even posted that on TOTV, but they are 100% wrong. Likewise some cart drivers think it is OK to stick out an arm and cut off a car, they are also 100% wrong. This exact scenario happened to my wife yesterday on Bailey trail approaching the St. Charles light. She was well ahead of a car, signaled both with the blinker and a hand signal, yet the driver raced at 40, went over the double yellow line around her, then had to stop at the light. He then rolled down the window and yelled "I have the right of way, hun". She politely told him that he did not, to which he replied "read about it".. So if that driver is on TOTV and sees this, the follow is true:

1) You were 100% wrong
2) You are a jerk, which is probably the most explicit expletive I can use here
3) You are lucky I wasn't in the cart
4) She is not your "hun"
5) YOU read about it
6) Did I mention you are a jerk?

End of rant.

[Bogie Shooter]

Yes, you are incorrect. AT THE GATES, carts crossing have a stop sign and the cars have the right of way. And as such, it would be better if car drivers did not play traffic cop and wave carts across---driving the car you have the right of way--just take it, things work better that way. HOWEVER, at the merge point PRIOR to the gate, the right of way is determined by position. You will note that each merge has a sign that states "carts merging ahead, 20 mph." So if a cart is far enough ahead of a car, say 100 feet, the car should not be closing in even an inch on a cart going 20. Unfortunately, some car drivers think they ALWAYS have the right of way, they've even posted that on TOTV, but they are 100% wrong. Likewise some cart drivers think it is OK to stick out an arm and cut off a car, they are also 100% wrong. This exact scenario happened to my wife yesterday on Bailey trail approaching the St. Charles light. She was well ahead of a car, signaled both with the blinker and a hand signal, yet the driver raced at 40, went over the double yellow line around her, then had to stop at the light. He then rolled down the window and yelled "I have the right of way, hun". She politely told him that he did not, to which he replied "read about it".. So if that driver is on TOTV and sees this, the follow is true:

1) You were 100% wrong
2) You are a jerk, which is probably the most explicit expletive I can use here
3) You are lucky I wasn't in the cart
4) She is not your "hun"
5) YOU read about it
6) Did I mention you are a jerk?

End of rant.

He is a jerk!

[golfing eagles]

He is a jerk!

I agree with this post:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[HoosierPa]

I lived in Boca Raton for 20 years. I left because of the people. Bet you can’t guess where most of them are from. Fast forward and retirees from the same area are flocking to the Villages. I rest my case.

[brianherlihy]

rude pople how let the dpgs crap on my lawn. i am a snow bird and . and my home must be the dog park

[golfing eagles]

rude pople how let the dpgs crap on my lawn. i am a snow bird and . and my home must be the dog park

But not just your lawn. the list includes:

Your lawn
Everyone else's lawn
The postal stations/pools
The golf courses
Any area of grass along a road
Basically anywhere but the dog owner's own yard

Full disclosure: I have had a dog for 54 of my 62 years, and cannot believe the crap (no pun intended) dog owners pull in TV.

[thelegges]

Yes, you are incorrect. AT THE GATES, carts crossing have a stop sign and the cars have the right of way. And as such, it would be better if car drivers did not play traffic cop and wave carts across---driving the car you have the right of way--just take it, things work better that way. HOWEVER, at the merge point PRIOR to the gate, the right of way is determined by position. You will note that each merge has a sign that states "carts merging ahead, 20 mph." So if a cart is far enough ahead of a car, say 100 feet, the car should not be closing in even an inch on a cart going 20. Unfortunately, some car drivers think they ALWAYS have the right of way, they've even posted that on TOTV, but they are 100% wrong. Likewise some cart drivers think it is OK to stick out an arm and cut off a car, they are also 100% wrong. This exact scenario happened to my wife yesterday on Bailey trail approaching the St. Charles light. She was well ahead of a car, signaled both with the blinker and a hand signal, yet the driver raced at 40, went over the double yellow line around her, then had to stop at the light. He then rolled down the window and yelled "I have the right of way, hun". She politely told him that he did not, to which he replied "read about it".. So if that driver is on TOTV and sees this, the follow is true:

1) You were 100% wrong
2) You are a jerk, which is probably the most explicit expletive I can use here
3) You are lucky I wasn't in the cart
4) She is not your "hun"
5) YOU read about it
6) Did I mention you are a jerk?

End of rant.

Sadly this happens so many times in a day, one would lose count. Plus I don’t think they can read the sign with a golf cart, merging ahead, 20mph, so reading TOTV, maybe way over their pay grade.

[LateBoomer]

believe me, people are FAR ruder in Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. Yes, there are some rude people here (I encountered one yesterday who didn't want to yield for a pedestrian in the crosswalk in front of Publix. Sad). but in general, we find the people here in comparison to everywhere else we have ever lived to be the most friendly. We almost meet great people whenever we go out. our neighbors are, mostly, very friendly (a few seem to keep entirely to themselves).

but compared to Tampa? This place has the manners of Victorian great house.

[Malsua]

I know I should probably keep my mouth shut, but the other day I was traveling down Rio Grande approaching Morse in our car. There was a cart ahead, so I slowed so they could come over.

They pulled up to the red, immediately the light turned green. They sat there for at least 5 seconds and I tapped the horn. The passenger in the cart, a woman, turned around and started wagging an index finger at me. Ok, fair enough. I couldn't hear her, but I saw her lips a flappin.

Since she kept going, I gave her the next finger over salute, which apparently sent her into full Karen mode. I turned left and drove away.

Yes, the entire episode is on the dash cam. If anyone claims they were the cart Karen, I'll upload the video to Youtube and we can discuss the finer details of the poor cart skills exhibited by the cart driver.

I understand they were probably snow birds or lost or something, but it wasn't me laying on the horn, it was a blip to let them know, hey, green is a burnin here, let's go.

[HORNET]

Welcome to the new Villages

[MorTech]

What are ya talking about? Screaming and flipping someone off is just a NY "Hello".
We all become mentally ill retardz as we age...Just sooner if you are from NY/NJ :)

[MorTech]

Golf carts give way to everyone...Except the Visitor lane at the gates...but don't count on it.

[golfing eagles]

Golf carts give way to everyone...Except the Resident lane at the gates...but don't count on it.

Not necessarily
Please read post #112

[Bay Kid]

Welcome to the new Villages

Welcome to the new country.

[MrFlorida]

Some people forget their retired and still have that work anxiety in them.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

I’m so sad for many of you who have written about the indignities you have suffered on a daily basis , wow to have seen so many bad drivers who don’t yield , people parked in cross walks , long lines everywhere, inconsiderate golfers , I’m just glad I live in the alternate village the one where everyday is a good day and where people don’t sweat the small stuff because it’s just life

[golfing eagles]

I’m so sad for many of you who have written about the indignities you have suffered on a daily basis , wow to have seen so many bad drivers who don’t yield , people parked in cross walks , long lines everywhere, inconsiderate golfers , I’m just glad I live in the alternate village the one where everyday is a good day and where people don’t sweat the small stuff because it’s just life

Where's that, Fantasyland???:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Yes fantasyland where many of the friends I have contact with live and the nice strangers I meet in the course of the day or at the bar while waiting to be seated for dinner yes that fantasyland

[Wyseguy]

I lived in Boca Raton for 20 years. I left because of the people. Bet you can’t guess where most of them are from. Fast forward and retirees from the same area are flocking to the Villages. I rest my case.

I find in my experience that the people of the NE tend to be very friendly. Even more so than those from the Mid West. I am not convinced being from a specific region is a large determining factor of how polite someone is.

[daspiva]

This will be our second season seeing the snowbirds return though I'm not sure last year really counted. We've noticed a marked increase in rudeness in the last couple of weeks; does it always get this way and do we get to enjoy another five months of this?

Just this week:

- Car coming through the Residents gate honked at a cart that had the audacity to pull into the neighborhood rather than crossing the road. The cart didn't impede the car, it was well into the diamond lane before the car reached it, but apparently not sitting and waiting for the car to pass was an offense.

- Car swerving out of the Residents lane and coming through the open gate on the Visitors side without stopping honked at a cart stopped in the center area waiting for exiting cars to pass. Since the incoming car did not stop at the gate it's possible the cart was still part way in the lane when the car reached it which would have caused the car to have to actually slow down after it raced through the open gate.

- Shopper in Publix trying to push my wife out of the way with their cart as (edit) she was looking at the turkey breasts. "I want one of those," seemed be the signal that her time had expired and she was required to move or risk being bumped.

- Shopper exiting Publix making rude comment about me being stopped to load groceries. Not parked, actually sitting in the drivers seat with the vehicle in drive as groceries were actively being loaded but apparently I was inconveniencing them somehow.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It's really like that everywhere in Florida, during the Fall and Winter, especially in TV where you have so many cranky old folks and then there's the people that come and visit THEM, who are just guests and don't care how they act because they come from some rat race other city where it's common to be rude, impatient and honk their car horns.. Your best bet is to go places when it's not the peak time. Early, early morning or late, late evening. Have dinner at the restaurants at like 3PM. And bring your patience. I honestly feel sorry for those people. Here we are in this beautiful area that most people can appreciate and be retired and just RELAX.. Some people have trouble trying to relax, I think! LOL