British bad manners

Columnist Tom Utley shares his indignation over the "unspeakable rudeness" that his wife has had to endure since becoming a bus driver on a London double-decker 18 months ago. "No doubt a lot of the people who call my wife a 'f------ c---' have had a bad day at work, and would really prefer to address their insults to their bosses. They vent their anger instead on the bus driver, because that is so much safer. It is always comforting to feel that there are people even lower down the food chain than we are. But, whatever the reason or the excuse might be, it is horrible that there are so many Britons around who think so little about showering abuse on strangers. According to my wife, schoolchildren are among the worst offenders, which does not bode well for the future. I just wish I knew what could be done about it."

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