I’m in Chicago but was raised under southern heritage. I have lived in Atlanta, Washington DC (Virginia), Houston, Cincinnati and Denver. My family is from Kentucky.
Don’t kid yourself if you think the stories written from men on FR are because men are bitter, blah blah blah... I’ve opened many of door for women and all I got was the sound of hi-heels clicking away as they walked away without acknowledgment. My girlfriend notices it also. And, it’s not just a ‘few rude women’ LOL... In fact, I am surprised when a woman does say thank you.
... women don’t seem to act very lady-like anymore.
I live in one of the rudest parts of the country (Palm Beach County). I have been to NYC and believe me, people are ruder here (it’s like they export the very rudest people they can find and send them here). Of course you will find unappreciative people everywhere, but even here, many people still at least smile and acknowledge when you hold a door. And, btw, as a former military brat AND after retirement my dad worked for defense contractors, I have lived in MANY places so it’s not like I don’t have every bit as much exposure to different parts of the country, and the world, as you do.
I think there is something deeper going on here. Is it that some FReeper men have such sensitive feelings that they cannot deal with rude people? That really is what it looks like. It really feels like a lot of pent up anger coming out in this thread. And yet, still, there are wonderful men (and women) posting that even in the face of rudeness they are not going to succumb and become rude themselves. I say bravo to them!