This isn’t meant to be a generational thing, but maybe that’s unavoidable. Really it’s a common decency thing, more specifically a lack thereof. You don’t have to work in customer service to notice to general lack of manners. Articles all over the internet show customers throwing tantrums over long wait times and ever changing rules. Mass exoduses of employees leaving the profession in search of a better job, or at least one where they won’t get yelled at over a frappaccino. This in turn only makes the wait times worse as fresh new hires are thrown into the ring before their ready, and it’s probable that they too will throw in the towel after realizing how much being treated like garbage has become just another part of the job. 

Where did this entitlement come from? Does it stem from the sense of anonymity online that has taught us it’s okay to be a jerk to strangers you don’t know? Maybe the online name calling is spilling out of our computers and into all our actions with strangers, even face to face. Regardless of why people feel emboldened to act out, there has to be a way for society to rein them back in.

I think we have no choice but to boldly start holding our friends and families accountable. Sure, I’d love to say that if you witness someone being a jerk in public, speak up! The unfortunate reality is people are on edge after this long pandemic and you just never know if someone is going to snap. Let’s start calling out those in our own circles and remind them that it’s not okay. 

No one is entitled to a fancy, surgery, overpriced coffee. They are definitely not entitled to be served that coffee within one minute of ordering on their phone. 

So lets come together to stop the tantrums and meltdowns and show the world we can wait patiently and be understanding when something isn’t perfect. After all, we’re all human. Let’s act like it.