Remember the old Star Trek Prime Directive?
How they put observation crews on planets to watch the societies from an invisibility cloaked observation platform.

I was out shopping again today (say it isn't so).
I feel like I am looking at society from behind an invisibility shield.
I use manners and try to be courteous to people as I interact with them.
Today, I was amazed at how surprised people were when I said excuse me, thank you or held the door for them. Flat out astonishment on their faces.

Has anyone else noticed you seem to be invisible when you are out in public?
Are people so caught up in their activities they no longer notice their immediate surroundings?
Have you noticed this or am I just weird (wait, I know I'm weird, strike that).

I went into the smoke & ale shop.
I held the door for the woman who works there.
She was astonished I held the door for her.
There were 7 customers and 3 employees.
I was fully aware of all them.
I got my beer & smokes and as I was leaving the guy with two cases of Bud was struggling with the door, I sprang forward and got the door for him.
He looked at me with a look of bewilderment.
As he went out, I saw his foot kinda push the door open for me so I told him thank you. Another look of bewilderment.

Are we programmed to ignore other people in public?
Is that something I missed by not watching enough TV?
It seems it gets more extreme as time progresses.
Has anyone else noticed this?

Sure.
Don't know if it's "invisibility" so much as "lack of awareness of their surroundings," or, "just basically inconsiderate of others," on their part.
Being hit with shopping carts, people standing around in the middle of aisles as I'm trying to go past, riding their bike in the middle of the street, parents and screaming kids running wild, having to walk side by side in confined spaces or in the parking lot, stopped in the parking lot to wait or make a phone call rather than pull into a parking space, crossing the street in the middle so I have to come to a stop, ignoring a line because they want to ask a "quick" question.


I don't think a large percentage care about their immediate surroundings.
There aren't really any consequences for not paying attention, and no incentive to do so.


Yes. And it's nothing new. Myself and others have been whining about it for years.


An hour ago I was pumping gas and noticed a woman (employee of the place) with her hands full walking up to the right hand door of the entrance. One woman stepped up her pace to get in front of her to go into the left hand door, then another woman stepped quickly around the employee to also go in the left hand door. Neither holding the door open for the employee. The employee juggled things in her hands to open the other door, and a guy stepped out and just walked away while this woman struggled just trying to get in.


I think it's more a symptom of other things as opposed to direct "programming."


No.


Sometimes that's self programming.
Sometimes something happens and brings your awareness to that event.
Then you start paying more mindful attention to that kind of event.
Even though the frequency isn't "really" increasing, it only appears so because you've started focusing on it for some reason.
As it increases in frequency you attach a greater significance and hierarchy of judgment to it.

Most people are just too caught up in themselves and don't give a s***...
..are they're scared something might happen to them... are there staring at the phone. ..but yes people are blind sheep

I live in a smaller town. I think that we tend to look after each other more.

It can be tricky to correctly assess the meaning of a "look." Especially a "look" from a stranger.

There are more and more people in the world the older we get. We are running over top of each other and it will only get worse. Perhaps this causes people to retreat into their own heads. I find women to be rude in the grocery stores, hogging the aisles and not even thinking to move out of the way or even being courteous enough to notice. And then I find I'm the one holding the door open for men at gas stations slash convenience stores half the time. Seems to be the normal after evolving over the years. So slowly you don't really notice it happening until someone questions it. Other than that I have no real issues. But don't get me started on drivers...

In a way, its more than that.
Its not about how YOU deal with people its more about how others deal with people.
A person is honorable (in most cases).
Chances are, you are honorable.
Its not really about you, doncha see.
Its about the GENERAL attitue of the general public compared to your own moral standards.

Its like a vital component of humanity is missing, or going away, that used to be a given? Its difficult to define exactly which is why I posted about it.
I'm mainly just curious if anyone else has noticed the same thing?

Granted, I'm not a highly social person.
My interactions with the public are limited to mainly resupply of stock.
Perhaps that is why it is so pronounced to me?
I have only a limited, occassional view.

This is it!

Yes, was talking about this the other day.
Maybe a bounce-off from a time where everyone was carefully watching another, every step you made. Often led to a lot of backlash, jealousy, judgement.
People got more individualistic, broke away from the restricting homeplaces, and with that obtained more anonymity.
Not living in the "now", and many live in their phone, even when out with a group to a restaurant for dinner.

I have noticed that as well Cat. I've been in small towns and larger cities. Those in the larger cities don't even acknowledge you, or if you say hello they look at you like you're a criminal. A lot just walk around with phone in hand, it was the same on the subway... everyone had a phone they were looking at.

I agree Crystal. I've noticed it with customer service people as well. I've been in stores where I go to the check out and the cashier is on the phone. They don't smile and say hello, they try to rush you out so they can get back to their own little world.

I can only guess, people in customer service, or waiters/bar staff are supposed to smile all the time. Even if customers are complete asshats. A bit of mutual respect might help. JMO

Wow, that is mega rude!

Yes it is! It was in the Florida Keys when I lived there.