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Why don't more people thank the bus driver....

When they get off the bus? I have no idea why but it really bugs me when they don't. Doesn't take much to just say thanks as you get off at your stop.

Edited as I know some people do thank them.

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GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M Best Comment

I think people see eachother as tools or disposable. Like all you are is your job.

Bothers me. I always thank folks for what they do.

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GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

@Beautifullyderanged Just dig down! lol.

Beautifullyderanged · 41-45, F

@GeistInTheMachine i suppose no one would know if it spread out to other people's gardens if it was deep enough lol

GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

@Beautifullyderanged Bingo.

helenS · 36-40, F

I do. I always thank our bus drivers. Actually there are only two of them. They stop near my house even though there is no official bus stop. I always give them a huge smile, and thank them.

Beautifullyderanged · 41-45, F

@helenS its nice that they do that for you :)

helenS · 36-40, F

@Beautifullyderanged The next official bus stop is more than a mile away...

OverTheHill · 56-60, M

Common courtesy has been lost. We are very selfish self-centered people.

I say thank you.

GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

@OverTheHill Absolutely.

Beautifullyderanged · 41-45, F

@OverTheHill and it isnt something thats encouraged or thought of as important anymore

SW-User

I always thank people no matter service they provide. I know how much it means.

Beautifullyderanged · 41-45, F

@SW-User exactly, and its nice to let people know they are appreciated

Rhode57 · 56-60, M

I agree and always do as well as taxi drivers who I always tip as well , its called manners or common decency . Sadly this seems to be a dieing thing . People seem to have forgotten what manners and common decency are .

KiwiBird · 36-40, F

Because in a lot of buses the front door is for entry and the rear door for exiting. So you do not get that opportunity.

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KiwiBird · 36-40, F

@OogieBoogie Cause you got lots of corners. I think the NZ buses are copied from NSW.

OogieBoogie · F

@KiwiBird yeah, as school kids we loved sitting in the bendy bit.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@OogieBoogie I see! Thank you! Quite a number of European cites use those, too. We use double-deck buses in Britain to solve the same problem of trying carry as many seats as possible in one vehicle.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

You seem to unearthed a strong strain of rudeness I think based on sheer snobbery;

"Why should I thank the driver or shop-assistant for providing me with a service? He / she is only doing his/her job!"

It implies smug superiority in people with limited manners and who'd rather not travel by public transport or do their own shopping; but would be very upset if their own work, far more important than bus- or till - driving, was not acknowledged or credited by their own employers or customers.

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

@MartinII it was not meant as either because I did not aim it all, let alone identify the offenders.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@ArishMell There is absolutely no basis for your imputation that people who take the view quoted in your second paragraph have the motives described in your third. Also, the bus driver and the shop assistant are completely different cases. The shop assistant is doing something for an individual customer. The bus driver is driving a bus which will usually have many passengers.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@MartinII I'm sorry but I don't differentiate between the shop worker and the bus driver in that way. Both are serving many people.

My point was simple: - some, not all replies imply a degree of considering whether someone is worthy of acknowledgement by what they do, not for doing it.

RuyLopez · 56-60, M

People just get to the point they don't have time to spare to acknowledge someone that is not in their face. I was raised in the south so acknowledging someone is just what you do as a decent human being.

MartinII · 70-79, M

Lots of people on buses round here (metropolitan London) do. Personally I find it slightly odd, because the driver is only doing the job for which he or she is paid for, and sometimes does it not very well or slightly grumpily (and in some cases will recently have been on strike!) It’s certainly much more common here than it used to be. Of course if the driver has done something helpful or beyond the call of duty, like waiting at a stop while someone runs or limps to catch the bus, then it’s important to thank them, and almost everyone does.

Lanyx · 41-45, M

Entitlement. -- I feel that people feel highly entitiled to this service.

GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

@Lanyx People will get a rude awakening when society collapses.

Pretzel · 61-69, M

I ride the bus.

I don't thank them because they aren't doing me a favor. They are doing their job. I don't thank the cashier at the grocery store for the same reason.

I do tell them to have a good day or see them tomorrow.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Pretzel So people do not deserve their work to be recognised? Still, at least your greeting is often taken as acknowledgement.

I always thank the shop assistants, sometimes have a joke or two with them; though I have to suppress a grimace when they parrot that awful, managerial-speak "Have a nice day" insincerity.

Pretzel · 61-69, M

@ArishMell thanking a person for doing their job is not necessary unless they have done something out of the ordinary.

now I DO thank cashiers etc when they work on a holiday or when a hurricane is headed our way and they could be at home prepping for the storm.

but the bus driver being thanked..nah. I don't see it as necessary.

I don't get thanked for doing my job - and I don't expect it. I expect my paycheck on time and to be treated courteously - but no more or less than they would treat any other stranger.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Pretzel I understand you point about being extra courteous and understanding at difficult times such as holidays or storms, but I suppose if your employer doesn't value your normal work it won't encourage you to value that of others.

In my experience seeing those who alight from a bus without at least a nod to the driver are very much in the minority.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

I always thank my bus driver if s(he) has got us to our destination safely. Bus drivers are paid less than HGV drivers which is a pretty odd set of priorities when you think about it. I place my life and safety in their hands and I certainly don't take that for granted.

JestAJester · 31-35, M

Maybe not everytime but im just as polite to them as i am the janitors, fast food workers, waitresses, etc. Ive worked crummy jobs like that. Just people trying to get through life. If anything id be more harsh towards celebrities than your average joe

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

When possible I do. Yet technically the drivers want people to exit on the back exit. It's not easy to thank the drivers on that back exit. Especially on a crowded bus.

Funlov · M

I’ve never taken a bus, but I would imagine if I would I would tell him to have a nice day as I’m getting offer on probably off

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Funlov · M

@helenS hope I pronounced them right and spelt them, right

Funlov · M

@helenS Europe is beautiful all of Europe. I like to go more east and west would like to see more it’s old so beautiful.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Funlov The notion of "old" and "new" is completely different in America and Europe, in my opinion. When I was in the US an American friend said "Look at that old church" and the church was only 200 years old... 😏

devonman · 61-69, M

I have never been on a bus and noticed anyone not thanking the driver, from young kids to old ladies they all thank the driver.

Sazzio · 31-35, M

Well, I thank driver once when getting on then last one at end of the day... anything in-between? I feel UK is being far too polite personally. Far too many thanks, excuse me, sorrys being thrown around these days.

It's dark, as am driving I give way to someone... that driver flashes their lights at me😆 😂 DUDE! YOU'RE BLINDING ME! and a quick way t run outta batts on yer lights. Yep... UK is too polite... politeness and political corrections can be found in all corners.

Muthafukajones · 46-50, M

Does everyone need to be thanked all the time?

He doesn’t drive you out of courtesy. It is a job.

Pretzel · 61-69, M

And just a slightly different take....the bus s drivers should thank us for our patronage as we are customers.

Havesomefun2 · 56-60, M

It’s there job to convey people

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Havesomefun2 It is, but that's no reason to treat them as non-persons.

Havesomefun2 · 56-60, M

@ArishMell I just think a job

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Havesomefun2 So manners don't matter?

Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

because they get paid, that is the compensation for their efforts

Curiosity13 · 51-55, M

some do, yes and others just view it as you (and me) doing your job.

Tennessean · 31-35, F

I always thank them even when I was a child riding the bus to school

Thomas52 · 70-79, M

Being grateful to people was part of my upbringing. Saying 'please' and 'thank you' was drummed into us (sometimes almost literally), but I know it makes a positive difference to people doing a stressful job to receive some acknowledgement that they are appreciated.

Highskirt · 56-60, M

I tiny bit of manners go so so far

nevergiveup · M

Times have changed. I was brought up to thank them. Today most dont even see the driver when they get on and off. He is just there

MartinII · 70-79, M

@nevergiveup Well in my case it has been rather different. When I was a lad, all buses had both a driver and a conductor and you got on and off at the back. You literally never saw the driver, and if you wanted to thank anyone it had to be the conductor. Nowadays, where I live, all buses have only a driver, but although you get on at the front, you are required to get off through a door further back. So if you want to thank the driver, which quite a lot of people do, you have to call out down the bus. Since the drivers are cocooned in a post-covid perspex cubicle, I doubt if they hear the thanks very often. Of course, it may be different in different countries and regions.

Sazzio · 31-35, M

@MartinII Yes. In the UK it's on the front and off the front also. A cubicle is there for the driver's safety but enough gaps for them t hear. Some have half a cubicle - depends on how much companies are willing to go for their drivers' safety.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Sazzio I’m in the UK. In London, where I live, you are not allowed to get off at the front. I’m sure it’s different in many other areas.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

A good point. I use buses fairly often, and from what I've seen more people do thank him or her, than not.

Similarly with others providing them with a service.

caccoon · 36-40

Gratitude is easy and we should practice it more often

It shows recognition to others and ourselves. It helps us appreciate life more and makes us more positive individuals

So I support this

hunkalove · 61-69, M

I always do. A lot of people here do.

GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

Thanks for BC.

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