h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am just intrigued by modern society! It appears to be devolving, not evolving, as listed below.

I'd like to hear others' viewpoints, for and against. Darwinian Awards would be fantastic! Like the mobile (cell phone) texters who cross at the red man, and wonder why drivers get off, or the cashier at a checkout trying to converse with a swamp-rat using an MP3.

Here are my starter for ten!

Why do young Mothers buy baby-carriers that face away from them, then stop every five seconds to check up on the rugrat, oblivious of their environment, after I have just managed to reach my cruising speed of one Kilometer an hour. Would they stop their car in the overtaking lane of a motorway in the same fashion?

And how can people be organised enough to write out shopping lists, but not have their method of payment ready at the checkout?

Why do people use golf umbrellas in the city, when they are only protecting themselves, not the entire street?

How I wish I was 5'5"! I could walk to work in a summer downpour and use those umbrellas and never get wet!

Over to you! Hopefully!

MMF

Hm...

I'm not sure that bad manners counts as society going 'backwards' I tend to think of trends and behaviour as looking more like those circular colour spectrum pictures.

Red becomes orange becomes yellow becomes green becomes blue becomes purple becomes red.

Mind you, I think life (humans, universal, not sure) is like a slinky spring. It seems like it goes around in circles so you see the same things come and go over and over again (peace, war, religious struggles, conservatism, liberation, sexual attitudes, gender attitudes...) but it isn't *quite* the same on each cycle...

Why do people wear formal clothes like suits and ties... if you think about it, it actually looks stupid

A nice guy in a nice suit once in a while is NOT a bad thing!

Sorry MMF, I wasn't dismissing your topic, I know what you mean I think, especially the umbrellas!

As for mothers, I think a little compassion and tolerance is is order - they are probably dealing with a lot more than you think, not to mention the difficulties involved in having a child in a pushchair (people tripping over it and your child, stopping in your way, acting like you shouldn't exist and generally getting in the way and not being understanding at all). It's hard for all of us out there, understanding each other's difficulties and trying not to irritate others helps.

One of my best friends is a mum and is always moaning about people stopping in front of her and stuff - well, she did until I pointed out to her that she did it, too. I think we all do, if we're honest. I do sometimes without realising it though 90% of the time if I need to stop, I head for something like a pillar or wall rather than just stopping.

My pet hate is people who hesitate walking through doorways (especially when exiting shops) in busy shopping areas. But I hate shoppers myself. Find them to be the ultimate in faffing, irritating, impolite and shallow people.