Culture of rudeness

The culture of rudeness, and not in a cool, suit wearing rocksteady way. Has the whole world caught narcissistic personality disorder? And what can be done about it?

I live in downtown Los Angeles where I have worked or lived consecutively for the past 12 or so years. Everything I need basically is within walking distance.

One of these places is The Perch, which is at the very top of a tall building on Hill / 5th streets (hence the name Perch). You have a beautiful view of DTLA and surrounding areas. They have diverse live music, great service, decent food  and great drinks. I love having dinners and brunches here. It’s a lovely place to enjoy company, food and ambiance.

The last two times I have been to The Perch, there were two separate tables with the same scenario. One couple on a date, one table of girls, both exhibiting the same behavior.

Girl on a date taking twenty full minutes — I’m not exaggerating — of selfies, all different yet equally stupid looks, while her date either looked at his phone or stared off into the city scape. Not until dinner arrived did she set her phone aside to eat, but still left it on the table just a few inches away.

Table of girls doesn’t communicate with each other at all, just takes selfies, bites of food and drinks during selfie marathon.

I don’t ever bring my phone out to dinner unless we are meeting someone who is on the way and may need to communicate. Otherwise I would have taken photos to document both occurrences, which I am aware would have made me rude in the process .

This is not a unique situation, it’s every place I go in Los Angeles possibly in every city but I cannot speculate on what I don’t know for sure.

Anytime I go see live music people are not watching the performance with their eyes but through a phone screen. It’s a whole different experience feeling and seeing those moments as opposed to watching and recording through a screen, then looking at your shit footage afterwards and crying because you missed something to be remembered in a real life way.

I’m one of those people who hate taking selfies. I will oblige sometimes when asked to be included, but in general think they are pointless and try to avoid them at all cost. I believe the selfie is just another way of dissociating yourself from other people.

Remember when you were on vacation and asked a nice stranger to take your photo in front of what ever monument or other visual keep sake you wanted to document? Oh no. Okay.

People do not interact with one another in a productive way as much anymore. When I say good morning to strangers I’m given the look of “Why is this person talking to me”. I was raised to be polite, look in people’s eyes when being spoken to and interact with people in my community not bury my face in a screen. But then portable screens and mobile phones were not a reality when I was growing up .

The world cannot be run on individualistic narcissism. It seems like here in Los Angeles it’s over run with people documenting mundane things that are rarely if ever meaningful or full of remembrance. It just makes me a little sad watching the further decline of civilization in front of my eyes. Everyone is together but alone at the same time.

You are missing life while it’s right in front of your eyes.

I equally love and hate technology.

Crazy woman who needs years of therapy

Fireman who thinks it cute to take a selfie in front of some poor family’s life being crushed.

I hope it was a really expensive ticket.

My child is being born? Whatever she can handle it, I need this selfie right now.

Super sad and amazing all at once.

I guess they weren’t that close.

Awesome Bro.

No comment.

Dolce &  Gabbana and an awesome parody of our culture.