TODAY’S POLL

LAST POLL RESULTS

26.9% of you voted About the same in yesterday’s poll: Compared with before the pandemic, do people seem more or less mindful of others in public now?

“It appears that most people where I live have gone back to the same attitudes they had before the pandemic. Only a few seem mindful of the people around them who aren’t in their social circles.”

“I think we just reverted to our previous selves.”

“I said about the same. It’s been several years now, and I feel many people have put the pandemic to rest. There are always going to be people on both sides of the extreme, but truly, it’s always been like that. But I won’t hesitate to tell someone to respect my personal space if I need to!”

“Don’t stand too close!”

“Once things got back to ‘normal,’ everything got back to normal, too. Maybe it’s because I live in the greater NYC area.”

“I reside in the South, where there’s a long history of kindness and speaking to one another. I do notice that phones have made people less outgoing.”

“I would say it depends on the person. The pandemic made some people more cloistered and antisocial, while others couldn’t wait to see and talk to people in person again.”

“I’ve noticed that young people (teens-20s) are MUCH less mindful of others in public and on mass transit. Not intentionally so, but in a more oblivious-to-others way. They’re not mean or rude — just very self-focused and often unaware that moving their bike or backpack could make it easier for someone else to sit.”

“It seems like a lot of people (usually younger people) don’t like interacting with others and will often purposely look straight ahead instead of simply saying ‘hi.’”

“People are in their own worlds and seem less mindful of what’s going on around them. I blame smartphones more than the pandemic.”

“Seems like people are more about themselves since the pandemic.”

“More distracted, it seems — but phones are a big one.”

“I think people got used to being by themselves and not having to deal with other people. People have become more insular and less forgiving of others. They also seem less kind and helpful.”

“With everyone held hostage in their homes, people became less tolerant of others and are now rude about everything... and nothing.”

“When they do pay attention to other people, it’s to be rude or call attention to some perceived slight.”

“Me, me, me is all you hear from people. Compassion is rare.”

“After the pandemic, it seems like everyone is out for only themselves. I really believe the pandemic irreparably damaged our psyches. I personally try to be mindful of others, but 99% of the time, it is not reciprocated.”

“WE CARE SO LITTLE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, IT’S SHAMEFUL.”

“Empathy and spatial awareness have vanished.”

“A quick and easy example: go to a busy city and try the elevators. Bonus points if it’s in a touristy place like Vegas. People aggressively pack themselves into elevators to an uncomfortable degree. They cough, sneeze, and act like everything’s a joke. It’s kind of infuriating.”

“Apathetic, indifferent, callous, disdainful — can’t put it all on the pandemic...”

“People don’t say a simple ‘thank you’ when someone holds the door open for them. People talk loudly in libraries. People walking down the street suddenly stop, causing those behind them to nearly run into them. People leave their carts in the middle of the grocery aisle, so no one can get past. People don’t put the divider down for the next person in the checkout line. People tailgate or cut others off in traffic because they apparently think they’re more important. Coworkers and bosses take credit for the work of others to get ahead. People drop trash everywhere. People let their dogs poop in other people’s yards and gardens — your dog, your poop. Parents don’t teach their kids to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, spreading germs to everyone else. Noticing and recognizing that you’re not the only person on the planet seems to have gone by the wayside.”

“This question actually made me laugh. Common sense is not as common as it used to be.”

“People wear pajamas and slippers outdoors.”

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