Great Western Coffee Shop

Posted in the lighter side but this may turn into a more serious discussion.

Took a bus this afternoon to Bristol. Usually always get the train but today got the bus as I only needed to go as far as Brislington for a hospital appointment.

The Bus had been sat at the stand for a while and it is a nice sunny day outside. So naturally the bus was a 'little warm'

I decided when boarding it would be a good idea to open some windows to let some fresh air in.

So when I opened 2 of the 4 windows just as an elderly man and his wife boarded and seemed to take offence at this idea. Admittedly I am not in the best frame of mind due to the nature for which I am travelling so perhaps I'm not as politely spoken as I usually always am! Also aware that is no excuse ::) :-X :-[

Anyhow this chap said "I hope it doesn't get cold in the journey with the windows open, did you ask anybody if they would mind opening them?"

To which I replied: "Well no I didn't because no-one has any more/less authority than me to open and close the windows anyway"

Another lady said "I tried to open one too, but this one is jammed"

The Elderly chap said "Bloody cheek that is just opening them without asking anyone"

My back got a little tense at this so I said the following: "We can always close the windows again if needs be"

"You shouldn't have opened them in the first place!"

"Why not? Nothing says you can't open them and I'm not the only person who made an attempt either!"

"I never said I wanted the windows open"

"You never said you didn't!! If you want me to close them I will..."

"That's not the point"

"What is the point then? I think you'll find worse things happen in life than someone opening a couple of windows for the comfort of others"

Conversation finished there. I was on the bus for 30 minutes. The windows we all still open when I got off the bus at Brislington... Including the jammed one that someone else managed to open ::) :D :P

Needless to say I was a tad mift that the hostility came in my direction. But you could say I don't do myself any favours and perhaps am anti-authority!! Or will perhaps argue my point like a dog with a bone...

Either way I didn't ask anyone as I opened the windows for the comfort of my fellow passengers in good faith which once again backfired on me ::)

Common Sense or Common Courtesy??

Discuss :)

I was sat towards the front part of the middle saloon in a class 165 once on an absolutely roasting day (I was in shorts) and pulled the hopper window open adjacent to me.

As we left and the train picked up some speed (a nice breeze was coming through) a young woman in a suit came from towards the back and said in a fairly terse manner "can you shut the window". My literal response was "no" which shocked her a bit.

She then said would I mind swapping seats with her (I think her hair was getting blown about), which I agreed to. A lot of it is to do with the manner (or lack of manners) in which the objection is raised.

In any case, they were not seated when you opened the windows. Maybe if the person was sitting next to you then a quick "do you mind" would suffice, but I do not think you need to consult the entire bus.

There is ... an assumption ... with many of the elderly that authority and the right to do things their way comes with age, and that younger people are somehow beneath them.   You've seen it before, I suspect, and you'll see it again with your youthful looks.

Rather co-incidentally, I've just taken a bus ride where there were all sorts of assumptions made, including that I (a fare paying passenger) should give up my seat for someone who was being paid for by the taxpayer - oh ... that's me too.   I wouldn't have minded if she had been polite about it ...

Graham, I do hope you are alright after your hospital appointment, and that your encounter with some bolshie oldies didn't rattle your cage too violently!

It often perplexes me to hear people of retirement age and over, complaining about the manners of youngsters.  I have had a couple of encounters recently with the elderly, awaiting buses, both times, they were jumping the queue, on one occasion in front of about 10 people!  I know some folk go all Victor Meldrew when they get old, and just please themselves what they do, whether anyone else's toes are trodden on or not.  However, to act in this way after grumbling about the 'yoof of today' is a bit rich!

Anyone remember Roger Saurus, from Spitting Image, circa 1980s?  If I find myself getting cross about the lack of manners from seniors, who should, after all be setting an example to others, I think of Roger and his appetite for the aged and decrepit - 'Old people???  Yum Yum!'.  Never fails to make me smile.

Erm ... it was Dominic 'thetrout' who had that encounter on his way to a hospital appointment, not Graham ...  ;)

When I used to work in a cafe, in general the elderly were often the rudest, I found many to be very obnoxious and lacked pleases and thank yous. I always found it amusing when the elderly who I've heard being plain rude then sat in the caf^ moaning about their perceived opinion of my younger customers, who I must add had in general used all their pleases and thanks, but were maybe a little loud talking amongst themselves as you expect from teenagers. In 4 years of managing that caf^, only twice did we have to report customers for abuse to staff, both were older customers.

I miss dealing face to face with customers, but don't know if I would want to go back to it day in day out.

I've noticed as I have got older that I have less patience with others perceived lack of manners. In the last week I have remonstrated with someone spitting in the street and a motorist who turned right into a road without signalling while I was crossing. Ten years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of speaking up. Perhaps it is a small step from that to being rude. In which case avoid me in ten years time!

I think it is always difficult in a shared space to know exactly how to deal with ventilation issues, but politeness is always a good way to get the best result.  I object to people opening a window as soon as they get on before they have adjusted to the ambient temperature, which will perhaps only have the effect of blowing away people sitting in another part of the train/bus. I am happy to sit next to an open window but three rows back someone may be suffering from a serious draft and so a polite request to swap places or partially close a window needs to be met with some understanding of why it is being made.

I'm 62...if that's of any relevance.

Having worked in a pub/restaurant with a regular elderly lunchtime trade I would describe them as hit or miss. Some are absolutely lovely. Meanwhile others apprently leave their manners at the door. One set of regulars would refuse to be served by a particular waitress as she was Polish. Shocking really.

I once shut a window on a bus (probably after trying to put up with the cold for quite a while) and got rather an angry reaction. Apparently the window was open to try and prevent another passenger being travel sick, but the way they complained made me think "what makes you think I knew somebody was threatening to throw up". If I'd known about the problem I probably wouldn't have closed the window but I was so cold I assumed the other passengers must be also and I don't initiate verbal communication much other than to friends and family.

I sometimes wind the windows up in a car. I tell them they're rubbish windows.

Ba-dum tcssshhh!

Ladies and Gentleman, Puffing Billy is here all week. 

Oh. :-[  Actually, I thought Puffing Billy's post was rather funny.  ::)

Yes, very witty.  :D I saw through it straight away.

The zenith has been reached.

Erm, sorry Dominic, and sorry Graham......