Different cultures different attitudes

[Silver-Fox]

Next month it’ll be a whole different ball game in Morocco….

And a year older and even grumpier

 

[Chris]

They were probably all French

 

[tacr2man]

It might be that you look too refined , maybe emulate Father Jack with suitable comments ?

 

[PP Bear]

I’m popping this in the post for you buddy, hopefully you’ll be able to get it by Christmas

 

[Richard n Ann]

I wasn’t going to say anything about this but it happened again today and it’s too often now so I know it’s not me and my stubborn attitude….
This is not a post about knocking European's

I love being away in my van abroad it’s all what I do in my van, love meeting people and different cultures, history and architecture in all of Europe.
Now as you probably can imagine I get some looks and comments made to me on my travels but it’s the norm and doesn’t usually bother me especially from the kids and they are great and usually ask questions so it an ideal way to educate them that I’m a bit different but will happily talk with them and have a joke.

But recently I’m finding a trend with the Spanish people I haven’t noticed before or perhaps it didn’t bother me, over the last few weeks we have visited some fairly busy places and some people have just walked straight into me even though they have seen me coming.. now I’m very aware of my surroundings always scanning ahead for obstacles and land mines while looking in the eyes of people around me and pretty good at reading people…

I first noticed it a while back a group of elderly men were standing talking on the fairly wide pavement and one in particular had seen me coming and he deliberately walked out into my way, now I don’t know if they do it to see the reaction or for me to speak to them or whatever I just don’t get it but me being who I am I just put my head down and plough in to him, a brief sorry conversation with them mumbling away while I carry on…

Last week a well to do women around 35-40 coming towards me with 3 others on a narrow path, she knows I’m coming but she just kept on coming while the others stepped into the quiet road to pass me she stops abruptly in front of me throwing her arms in the air mumbling and eventually goes round me…
I’ve had this quite a few times now and as I just keep on pushing ahead people eventually get out of the way, it’s like a game of “chicken” but when it’s on a narrow path I can’t jump out of the way with usually a 8" kerb drop..

Now come to today, leaving Ronda we pop into Aldi and at the till I’m paying and waiting for the receipt and there is a woman in the queue behind me deliberately pushing her trolley into my chair quite hard and I mean several times to try and push me out of the way… now I just turned and gave the trolley a hefty push and she had to step back and I just sat there glaring at her with my hands up saying “Really “…

Now I’ve had this sort of thing all my life but it’s rare and only once in a while occurrence but it’s happening a lot lately… is it the wheelchair ..? Have the Spanish a different attitude to wheelchair users like a disrespectful attitude..? Or are they the same with “normal “ people….

Sorry it’s a long moan and I don’t like to, especially about European people who I mostly get on with very well with…. I don’t want this to be a European bashing thread and if it does I’ll get Jim to shut it down…

What’s your views, especially from those that live in Spain, am I missing something…?

Funny you should say this. Aneta was saying how the Spanish walk towards her on the street like a game of chicken and she is always the one to move out of the way. She pretended not to notice once and the person had to move to the side right at the last minute, she won one at last

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[Nanniemate]

I do think that sometimes but I’m pretty happy at the moment, I’m beginning to think that it’s been me in the past have been too polite but that doesn’t explain why some people see me coming and deliberately do something to be in my way when I get to them…..

Seriously thinking about it, could it be the Benidorm effect.

So many people of all shapes and sizes and running about on mobility scooters half p!$$Ed getting in everyone's way that don't need them but are using them as a novelty toy.

Could you be suffering due to others behaviour?

 

[L' Hobo]

Knowing you I’d say it’s your poor attitude and confrontational style

Seriously though I think people of a certain age and possibly size of bank ballance.
Some seem to have a certain mentality of entitlement theses days.

I see it over here as well, some just won’t slightly step aside to avoid contact.
Same in cars, instead of moving over a bit they will just sit in the middle of the road.

Respect is disappearing unfortunately.

I’d do the same as you just ram into them

I haven't been abroad lately BUT, in Britain since COVID, we seem to have lost the meaning, especially by the younger people (although I may be predudiced) of the meaning of the words, RESPECT, CONSIDERATION & TOLERANCE.

Sadly now, it appears, the only thing that is is important, is playing the rules to acquire as much benefit as possible.
When others, in authority, are playing the same game, who can blame them?

Whatever happened to conscious?

I'm happy to report, even at 80, I'm still big, ugly with attitude when needed!

 

[Just smiffy]

I’m popping this in the post for you buddy, hopefully you’ll be able to get it by Christmas

View attachment 991743

Could get one of these…

 

[Just smiffy]

I haven't been abroad lately BUT, in Britain since COVID, we seem to have lost the meaning, especially by the younger people (although I may be predudiced) of the meaning of the words, RESPECT, CONSIDERATION & TOLERANCE.

Sadly now, it appears, the only thing that is is important, is playing the rules to acquire as much benefit as possible.
When others, in authority, are playing the same game, who can blame them?

Whatever happened to conscious?

To be honest I don’t have this problem with the youngsters…

 

[Nanniemate]

Could get one of these…

View attachment 991746

Ask DuxDeluxe he may hold the copyright

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[L' Hobo]

To be honest I don’t have this problem with the youngsters…

Happy to read that, neither do I, usually, except they seem to think others will sort THEIR problems but, as I said, despite trying otherwise, I may be predudiced!

 

[VXman]

Rude behaviour from uneducated morons, sadly becoming more and more common unfortunately.
I'd get a loud hooter to warn them of your approach.

Weirdly my 30 year old daughter and husband were moaning about this yesterday - so it's not just us oldies!!!

Just smiffy - Just as bad in the UK as in any European country I'd say.

 

[L' Hobo]

Weirdly my 30 year old daughter and husband were moaning about this yesterday - so it's not just us oldies!!!

Just smiffy - Just as bad in the UK as in any European country I'd say.

Don't ask me why, but life seems to have changed drastically since COVID.

Not that I an implying that COVID had anything, other than attitude, to influence it.

 

[Dutch 68]

Rude behaviour from uneducated morons, sadly becoming more and more common unfortunately.
I'd get a loud hooter to warn them of your approach.

Get one of those really loud gas canister air horns, scare the living daylight out of them

 

[Grianan]

There’s no acceptable excuse/reason. You can’t move on/off kerbs easily so an able bodied person should move. Just as one would for a pushchair. Beats me how people can be so rude/inconsiderate.

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[Widge]

Its quite a reflection on society.
Look at the littering.
Look at folk not picking up dog s*it.
Not sure what’s happening.

As a view, years ago my wife was in a wheel chair, her observation of life in a chair ( short term )
Was people looked over her, ignored her.
From that ive have tried to engage and go down to the level of the wheel chair occupied when talking.
Is that the right approach?

My wife has needed to use a chair on and off over the years, in shops etc I just got in the habit of wheeling her in the direction of an assistant or cash desk, then looking away, then they had to deal with her.

 

[Northernraider]

I don't think it's the chair I think it's just ignorant shits. I get this when walking the dogs , people will walk towards you making eye contact ....then try to literally walk between me and the dogs on the narrowest side almost like the play a game to see if I'll move over. 5 against one I'm afraid I'm not moving .. so it often ends with some idiot tripping over a lead or having a dog jump on them or like one instance the other day a woman stepping up on to the small wall running along the promenade because she refused to walk around. Cyclists do the same here , there's cycle paths running alongside the walkway but they still cycle on the path and charge towards you ..I don't move and next thing they're stopping and waving their arms around . I think you've just gotta play them at their own game . Blu usually sorts out folk that get to close

 

[ChrisL]

You need a tin mug with a few coins in it to rattle and a sign around your neck with Alms for a Leper in Spanish written on it, they'll be throwing themselves out of the way

 

[Puddleduck]

Blu usuppally sorts out folk that get to close

Can I borrow her please?

 

[Peavy]

This is sad. Maybe some cultural differences are there for sure but some people are idiots, regarding of birthplace. I have to admit, we were a bit surprised when we went to US for honeymoon and people said sorry when getting in "crash course" with you while walking in the street. Here nobody would say sorry even if you almost get in "soft" physical contact because of this, only if there's been a clear contact. I think we don't let go the word "sorry" lightly (wich is bad). Maybe others here could add more contrast. Sorry Just smiffy

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[Wanders from Glos]

I’m sorry you have experienced this behaviour it must be very irritating for you. I guess there are always ignorant people everywhere but I have noticed in some European countries they play a kind of chicken when walking and then swerve out of the way at the last second. Whereas the British tend to take evasive action early to avoid any eye contact. The other thing I have noticed is they can be more self absorbed and less aware of their surroundings, we find it rude but to them it is just normal. Perhaps it means they are more relaxed in their environment.

I guess I am wondering if it’s a cultural thing. None of that explains or excuses deliberately getting in your way or knocking against your chair though. That’s just horrible behaviour. I fear it may also be slightly bullying. They get out of the way or don’t push a male like me, but feel they can push you. Obviously unacceptable.

I should add I love Spain and Spanish people to the point we would consider moving there.

 

[Pugsy]

I wasn’t going to say anything about this but it happened again today and it’s too often now so I know it’s not me and my stubborn attitude….
This is not a post about knocking European's

I love being away in my van abroad it’s all what I do in my van, love meeting people and different cultures, history and architecture in all of Europe.
Now as you probably can imagine I get some looks and comments made to me on my travels but it’s the norm and doesn’t usually bother me especially from the kids and they are great and usually ask questions so it an ideal way to educate them that I’m a bit different but will happily talk with them and have a joke.

But recently I’m finding a trend with the Spanish people I haven’t noticed before or perhaps it didn’t bother me, over the last few weeks we have visited some fairly busy places and some people have just walked straight into me even though they have seen me coming.. now I’m very aware of my surroundings always scanning ahead for obstacles and land mines while looking in the eyes of people around me and pretty good at reading people…

I first noticed it a while back a group of elderly men were standing talking on the fairly wide pavement and one in particular had seen me coming and he deliberately walked out into my way, now I don’t know if they do it to see the reaction or for me to speak to them or whatever I just don’t get it but me being who I am I just put my head down and plough in to him, a brief sorry conversation with them mumbling away while I carry on…

Last week a well to do women around 35-40 coming towards me with 3 others on a narrow path, she knows I’m coming but she just kept on coming while the others stepped into the quiet road to pass me she stops abruptly in front of me throwing her arms in the air mumbling and eventually goes round me…
I’ve had this quite a few times now and as I just keep on pushing ahead people eventually get out of the way, it’s like a game of “chicken” but when it’s on a narrow path I can’t jump out of the way with usually a 8" kerb drop..

Now come to today, leaving Ronda we pop into Aldi and at the till I’m paying and waiting for the receipt and there is a woman in the queue behind me deliberately pushing her trolley into my chair quite hard and I mean several times to try and push me out of the way… now I just turned and gave the trolley a hefty push and she had to step back and I just sat there glaring at her with my hands up saying “Really “…

Now I’ve had this sort of thing all my life but it’s rare and only once in a while occurrence but it’s happening a lot lately… is it the wheelchair ..? Have the Spanish a different attitude to wheelchair users like a disrespectful attitude..? Or are they the same with “normal “ people….

Sorry it’s a long moan and I don’t like to, especially about European people who I mostly get on with very well with…. I don’t want this to be a European bashing thread and if it does I’ll get Jim to shut it down…

What’s your views, especially from those that live in Spain, am I missing something…?

No unfortunately Smiffy it's a common thing,I get it all the time also.They just don't want to move over ,often 2 or 3 people side by side taking up the whole path and just brush past you.When I am in the right (or wrong) mood and see this about to happen I just stop take out my mobile and stand there looking down at the screen.i speak a bit of Spanish so if I get rude comments made at me I can often answer them back to their suprise.
Some times it can be fun.

 

[Northernraider]

I've just had a Spanish driver hit my van this morning then stand and deny it 3 times before finally admitting he hit it. Very slight damage not worth the hassle but not even an apology

 

[Pugsy]

I've just had a Spanish driver hit my van this morning then stand and deny it 3 times before finally admitting he hit it. Very slight damage not worth the hassle but not even an apology

I ticked the informative icon but maybe Jim should add a fe##en ejjit button for use on these occasions .
Hope the van isn't to bad.

 

[Northernraider]

I ticked the informative icon but maybe Jim should add a fe##en ejjit button for use on these occasions .
Hope the van isn't to bad.

It isn't bad but now scratched where it wasn't before

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[Pugsy]

It isn't bad but now scratched where it wasn't before View attachment 991814

It's just annoying that you know it's there and it's not your fault

 

[Poutie57]

My wife uses a fairly large walker as she has no balance and we spend most of our away time in Europe recently returning from 11wks in France we have found the French are more aware of her disability than English folk an example would be in supermarkets standing in the checkout queue the French let you go to the front or even open a checkout just for us. We have found the further north you go in Europe the more aware people are of other people who have disabilities. I just think it’s a cultural thing and just like you Smiffy I tell her to stand her ground when walking on pavements and if the person doesn’t move I just tell them how ignorant and arrogant they are

 

[L' Hobo]

I can't speak for Spain, but I wonder if this mobile phone era has anything to do with this ignorance?

In the past few years people have been vehemently ignoring ALL else around them and just concentrating on that tiny screen on their mobile.

IF people can get away with doing this long enough, can it become a habit?

I'm lucky, I'm 6 ft in height and circumference so I just stop, stand still, then shout "Oye" very loudly just before impact.
They're not happy but the arguments don't last too long!

 

[L' Hobo]

I haven't been abroad lately BUT, in Britain since COVID, we seem to have lost the meaning, especially by the younger people (although I may be predudiced) of the meaning of the words, RESPECT, CONSIDERATION & TOLERANCE.

Sadly now, it appears, the only thing that is is important, is playing the rules to acquire as much benefit as possible.
When others, in authority, are playing the same game, who can blame them?

Whatever happened to conscious?

I'm happy to report, even at 80, I'm still big, ugly with attitude when needed!

That should have read, 'Whatever happened to CONSCIENCE ' bloody spellchecker!

 

[Puddleduck]

I think COVID and isolation have had a lot to do with lack of spacial awareness. People expect others to respect personal space whilst ignoring it themselves.

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