Why do some people feel the need to be so rude?!

biko · 20-03-2014 12:55PM

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote: »

TL;DR - Most people are grand, some can be pricks, its dependant on what kind of day they're having sometimes, but generally, people are good.

This ^^^

But all you need is one person having a bad day and taking it out on someone for a thread to spring up about it.

Zillah · 20-03-2014 12:57PM

sopretty wrote: »

Is 'mister' the correct term for a consultant? I'd have called them 'doctor'. Lol.

It's actually kind of weird.

A normal guy on the street is Mr.
A guy who is a medical doctor, like your GP, is Dr.
A doctor who has gone on to become a specialist consultant used to be called Dr. and is now Mr. again. In that context Mr. is actually a higher title than Dr., which is weird. He's still a doctor, of course, but he's Mr. Smith, not Dr. Smith.

Bonkers.

Also consultants are usually gigantic jakkasses. I worked in a hospital for four years, trust me. They charge huge fees, are in massive demand and can basically treat the world however they like and still get treated like royalty. I imagine their secretaries tend to pick up on their demeanor and emulate it.

jimgoose · 20-03-2014 12:57PM

kneemos wrote: »

Went for an interview years ago and the receptionist had such a low cut top I could see her belly button when she bent over.

When she bent over towards you or away from you? Now the latter would be a low-cut top!

Zillah · 20-03-2014 01:04PM

fortwilliam wrote: »

I do not refer to anybody's qualifications in any walk of life, I do not understand what it has to do with anything.

If I am calling about my appointment with Dr. John Smith, I will tell the receptionist I am calling about my appointment with John Smith.
If corrected, I will correct the receptionist to address me as Sales Manager Fortwilliam.

That's because becoming a doctor takes a decade of hard work and intellect, and their title reflects that level of commitment and expertise, whereas I can train a labrador to be a sales manager in a week. That's why no one goes around using a title for it - it doesn't reflect anything and no one gives a toot.

sopretty · 20-03-2014 01:06PM

I find it hard to know how to address a guard at a checkpoint. Particularly when I don't want him to notice my slightly lapsed tax disc. I feel the urge to give them some sort of respectful title. Or bow or something. Lol.

The Backwards Man · 20-03-2014 01:07PM

Yes, lad.

pharmaton · 20-03-2014 01:07PM

went for an interview for a FÁS placement a little while ago, I had to bring any relevant certification with me and one of the interviewers decided to take umbrage with my qualifications. From the moment I sat down she barked down her neck at me. Apparently we had worked in the same place about 15 years previously and she referred to it on my C.V. She asked did I really work there because she didn't remember me. Mostly because she worked in customer service in a different part of the building while I worked in operations and had a very a different job spec. I had to actually name the managers and other employees I worked with and still she just rolled her eyes.
One of my certs was done through NUIG 12 years ago, when she asked about the course I explained it was run through KK but I had to attend NUIG twice a year for seminars and she stated quite vociferously that whatever it was it definintely wasn't an NUIG qualification. I wouldn't mind but the certificate had it written quite plainly in Irish so I'm guessing she doesn't speak the language.
I'd love to know how these knob jockeys get hired.

jimgoose · 20-03-2014 01:07PM

Zillah wrote: »

That's because becoming a doctor takes a decade of hard work and intellect, and their title reflects that level of commitment and expertise, whereas I can train a labrador to be a sales manager in a week. That's why no one goes around using a title for it - it doesn't reflect anything and no one gives a toot.

"You will address me by my proper title, you little bollocks!!" :pac::pac::pac:

Ann Landers · 20-03-2014 01:09PM

Zillah wrote: »

That's because becoming a doctor takes a decade of hard work and intellect

Hard work, yes, but medical training is no more difficult than a lot of things, it's just more intensive.

kneemos · 20-03-2014 01:10PM

sopretty wrote: »

I find it hard to know how to address a guard at a checkpoint. Particularly when I don't want him to notice my slightly lapsed tax disc. I feel the urge to give them some sort of respectful title. Or bow or something. Lol.

Yes it is my ve hicle

anncoates · 20-03-2014 01:12PM

Last time we renewed our life assurance it took my wife's consultant /his secretary so long (as in months) to simply fax a record that we actually both passed a birthday and had to pay a higher premium. Constant requests just met with ignorance

Doubt that kind of forgetfulness would prevail for an unpaid bill of course.

LynnGrace · 20-03-2014 01:13PM

sopretty wrote: »

I find it hard to know how to address a guard at a checkpoint. Particularly when I don't want him to notice my slightly lapsed tax disc. I feel the urge to give them some sort of respectful title. Or bow or something. Lol.

Well in the radio ads people say 'gaaard'

There was one some years ago, I think it was about having a designated driver...'he's grand, gaaaaard'.

danniemcq · 20-03-2014 01:14PM

oh and this is the video i was on about earlier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKYJVV7HuZw

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/story-behind-water-inspiring-video-people-cant-stop-watching-149324

Edit: the adweek link has the video at the bottom that doesn't seem to be blocked at my work anyway

sopretty · 20-03-2014 01:15PM

anncoates wrote: »

Last time we renewed our life assurance it took my wife's consultant /his secretary so long (as in months) to simply fax a record that we actually both passed a birthday and had to pay a higher premium. Constant requests just met with ignorance

Doubt that kind of forgetfulness would prevail for an unpaid bill of course.

It had probably gotten mislaid in her fancy shmancy filing system. :pac:

Zillah · 20-03-2014 01:23PM

Ann Landers wrote: »

Hard work, yes, but medical training is no more difficult than a lot of things, it's just more intensive.

I would have thought more intensive training was more difficult, no? Less time to rest, less time to study, less time to catch up on anything you missed or struggled with.

Dr Strange · 20-03-2014 01:39PM

The difference between Mr and Dr in the medical profession lies between surgeons and any other type of medical consultant. A medical consultant in any field outside surgery would be Dr. A surgeon would always be Mr (in the Irish and UK systems anyway).

sopretty · 20-03-2014 01:40PM

Preusse wrote: »

The difference between Mr and Dr in the medical profession lies between surgeons and any other type of medical consultant. A medical consultant in any field outside surgery would be Dr. A surgeon would always be Mr (in the Irish and UK systems anyway).

Aha - that explains their arrogance then!

Dr Strange · 20-03-2014 01:44PM

Google provides some detailed answers but this one is as good as any: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon
Under "Titles".

Tombo2001 · 20-03-2014 01:45PM

Collin Pitiful Comedian wrote: »

Rang a particular public hospital this morning as am waiting for an appointment. Secretary to consultant nearly took the head off me with rudeness. I called the consultant 'Professor' instead of 'Mister' and I was promptly corrected in the sharpest tone..so taken aback that I actually apologised to her for my error!!..she continued then to sharply bite my head off for the rest of the phone conversation. If my boss in work ever heard me speaking to a person on the phone in that manner I would probably have my marching papers.

This isn't the first time I have encountered unbelievable rudeness from consulants' secretaries in this hospital.

It costs nothing to be mannerly and you'd imagine that the fact that these people work in a hospital, which is supposed to be a caring environment for unwell people, that they would have some sort of manners. I am sure there are nice consultants' secretaries out there but my latest experiences leave me thinking that the majority are just plain rude, ignorant and ill-mannered and shouldn't be working in jobs where they have any face-to-face or phone contact with people. :mad:

The consultants are lovely people. (How much do they earn?).

And the secretaries were rude. (How much do they earn?).

sopretty · 20-03-2014 01:47PM

Just as a complete and utter aside (and apologies OP for going off-topic on you - hope your day improves and Madame-Full-of-Her-Own-Importance has left your mind!).....

But, does anyone else find it amazing that the witnesses in the Oscar Pistorius trial don't get confused by having to say M'Lady all the time, even when they're being questioned by one of the two barristers?

I initially thought it was the formal way to address the barristers (which I found strange lol) until I finally copped that it was the Judge they were addressing.

I Heart Internet · 20-03-2014 01:47PM

Collin Pitiful Comedian wrote: »

Rang a particular public hospital this morning as am waiting for an appointment. Secretary to consultant nearly took the head off me with rudeness. I called the consultant 'Professor' instead of 'Mister' and I was promptly corrected in the sharpest tone..so taken aback that I actually apologised to her for my error!!..........

This isn't the first time I have encountered unbelievable rudeness from consulants' secretaries in this hospital.

..........I am sure there are nice consultants' secretaries out there but my latest experiences leave me thinking that the majority are just plain rude, ignorant and ill-mannered and shouldn't be working in jobs where they have any face-to-face or phone contact with people. :mad:

Some people don't see the public as clients. They see them as pests, to be dealt with. It's a question of incentives....how is a person incentivised to deal with clients as clients. But it's also down to good manners. I'd like to think that, whatever my position or incentives I'd always deal with people in a friendly, polite way..........I find things go much more smoothly with that approach anyway.

But, to be fair, I had reason to deal with a consultant's secretary in the last few months and I must say, she was EXTREMELY polite and friendly. Went out of her way to be friendly and reassuring.

Ann Landers · 20-03-2014 01:53PM

Zillah wrote: »

I would have thought more intensive training was more difficult, no? Less time to rest, less time to study, less time to catch up on anything you missed or struggled with.

I meant more intellectually, it's nothing out of the ordinary. Someone coming from a pure science degree to grad medicine would find it easy.

Jimoslimos · 20-03-2014 01:55PM

Preusse wrote: »

The difference between Mr and Dr in the medical profession lies between surgeons and any other type of medical consultant. A medical consultant in any field outside surgery would be Dr. A surgeon would always be Mr (in the Irish and UK systems anyway).

In addition this dates back to the time when surgeons wouldn't have formal qualifications and were merely skilled with cutting tools, and many were barbers as well. Surgery was dirty work not befitting of educated physicians!

Dr Strange · 20-03-2014 01:58PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

In addition this dates back to the time when surgeons wouldn't have formal qualifications and were merely skilled with cutting tools, and many were barbers as well. Surgery was dirty work not befitting of educated physicians!

Yes, the history of medicine is quite interesting!

No Pants · 20-03-2014 02:07PM

Collin Pitiful Comedian wrote: »

I called the consultant 'Professor' instead of 'Mister' and I was promptly corrected in the sharpest tone

A quiet "Whatever" at this point should have worked just fine. For the amount of money he/she is likely to be asking you for in the near future, you should be able to call him whatever you want.

sopretty · 20-03-2014 02:08PM

fortwilliam wrote: »

I do not refer to anybody's qualifications in any walk of life, I do not understand what it has to do with anything.

If I am calling about my appointment with Dr. John Smith, I will tell the receptionist I am calling about my appointment with John Smith.
If corrected, I will correct the receptionist to address me as Sales Manager Fortwilliam.

Social situations I find even more inappropriate and hilarious.. Hi, I'm Doctor Mary Doyle.. Oh Hi, I'm Shop Assistant Brian.

Have you ever been in court? A judge would put manners on ya!

Katgurl · 20-03-2014 02:09PM

I find them to be a special breed too OP.

It's as if we are all expected to share their reverence for 'the doctor' whereas my attitude would be that he/she is paid to do a job and as a paying customer I'm entitled to an acceptable level of mutual respect and service.

Fighting Irish · 20-03-2014 02:15PM

Collin Pitiful Comedian wrote: »

Rang a particular public hospital this morning as am waiting for an appointment. Secretary to consultant nearly took the head off me with rudeness. I called the consultant 'Professor' instead of 'Mister' and I was promptly corrected in the sharpest tone..so taken aback that I actually apologised to her for my error!!..she continued then to sharply bite my head off for the rest of the phone conversation. If my boss in work ever heard me speaking to a person on the phone in that manner I would probably have my marching papers.

This isn't the first time I have encountered unbelievable rudeness from consulants' secretaries in this hospital.

It costs nothing to be mannerly and you'd imagine that the fact that these people work in a hospital, which is supposed to be a caring environment for unwell people, that they would have some sort of manners. I am sure there are nice consultants' secretaries out there but my latest experiences leave me thinking that the majority are just plain rude, ignorant and ill-mannered and shouldn't be working in jobs where they have any face-to-face or phone contact with people. :mad:

This is one of them stories where i'd like to hear the other side of the story

No Pants · 20-03-2014 02:16PM

Don't forget OP that you can mention her behaviour to the consultant when you're speaking with him. I would if I was worked up enough about it.

nc19 · 20-03-2014 02:21PM

Sometimes i try to be as rude as possible to see how far i can push it before they say something then i look really shocked and make it out that they mistook me until THEY apoligize to me!
Why you ask?

To amuse me

Why do some people feel the need to be so rude?!

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