Rudeness is my biggest pet peeve. Whether going to the local grocery store, restaurant or even at work, I encounter rude people every day.
What gives someone the right to be rude? Is it in their genes?
I used to work in a restaurant. At first, I was a hostess and recall times when people would come in and I would politely and pleasantly greet them. My first question was always smoking or non? The guest would answer and the immediately say, ” I want a booth.” Nevermind they were usually too heavy to fit in one and had to adjust the table in order to do so. If they hadn’t yet specified what seating arrangement they preferred, I would walk them to a table (if it was on the rotation next instead of a booth) and the customer would quite loudly demand a booth. What is wrong with people? What does it matter where you sit? Why are booths in so much demand? I never mind where I am sitting unless my children are with me and I do not want them to disturb other guests. Then I will quietly ask for a table or booth in the corner.
When I got tired of being a hostess, I became a server. This was worse! I would wait to have someone seated at my section and the walk over to greet them. “Hello, how are you ladies doing today?” To which, I would get this response: ” I want tea,” or ” I want tea and I’m ready to order.” Sometimes I would just ignore them and ask again how they were and they would then say, “Did you get my drink order?” “Yes, Ma’am, I sure did. Tea, very little ice, no lemon.” Then, I would icily walk away. That was going to be a bad tip day. You can try all you want, give the best service ever but most people do not know servers only make $2.13 and hour and absolutely rely on tips to pay their bills. If you don’t plan to tip your server, do not go out to eat. Tipping is part of your meal. It should NOT be optional. Would you like to make $2.13 an hour? Would that pay your bills? I Didn’t think so.
Now, I work in a real estate office. I will answer calls daily and usually my greeting is something like this: “Good Morning, —- Real Estate.” So often do realtors calling in just ignore and cut me off while in the middle of my greeting. This absolutely makes me want to hang up on the agent! Occassionaly people will call while they are in the middle of a conversation and I will answer, get through my entire greeting and realize they are not even listening to me. They are still talking to the other person. Once I realize this, I repeat my greeting and if they happen to catch it the second time, they will begin talking. If they don’t, I hang up on them after the second introduction. I will not waste my time on someone who does not respect my time. Usually once they realize the phone has hung up they call right back. This time they are paying attention and listening right from the beginning.
I’ll give you that yes, there are a lot of rude people out there. If you lived in the first half of the 20th century you would have to deal with not being able to get a job because you’re a woman(I’m assuming you’re a woman since you used the term hostess), and most men would think your place was in the kitchen at home rearing babies and being subservient (unfortunately some guys still have this mentality).
Sometimes when you say “hello” or greet someone, it doesn’t register. Half the time I greet people at a job they are oblivious that I’ve even spoken. They came to check out the merchandise and I wouldnt take it personally.
It would be nice if people were more polite, but the way our culture is it just doesnt seem fathomable in the near future. I hold open doors for strangers though 
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