Hmmm.. Interesting topic. I've seen both, but perhaps somewhat more exaggerated than "the good old days" (rose tinted glasses) .
On one hand, yes, I've observed more anger, impatience, intolerance, and a good share of willful misguidance.
On the other hand, there's also plenty that exhibit incredible patience and understanding, pragmatism, and openness. And honesty.
But while the pandemic has certainly pushed nerves to their limits at times, I'm not yet ready to blame it all on that.
Frankly, I think certain major influencers in recent years have instigated and normalised intolerance and misinformation to a point where it's become perfectly reasonable to become unreasonable, based on imaginary threats that suit whatever the narrative.
And it's more ok to lie and cheat to get whatever it is you want, because that's what they all do, right? If you don't, you're a "loser", right? Or at least that's what many have been led to believe. And if you get caught, just accuse them of something worse in retaliation. Sound familiar?
Even if you don't subscribe to that way of thinking, it only takes a few bad experiences to set you on the path of divisiveness. But in the big picture, that's just not a good way to be. What goes around comes around.
For now, I'm counting my blessings. Over here, rudeness and self-centeredness isn't quite epidemic. Yet.
