Some recent research into public rudeness said that the usual focus was on wilful antisocial behaviour. It was always associated with young males from poor backgrounds.

But closer investigation shows that rudeness is much more widespread among people of all social types. It is to be found in any close environment where people are going in different directions at different speeds - e.g. in the street.

I was thinking about this just yesterday in the context of conflict. I was thinking about how things (people) in physical space are bound to clash given that they are physical entities competing (potentially) for that space. This is a fact of nature making war a perpetual feature.

Okay, most of us go through life never having to get down and dirty in actual combat. That is because soldiers and policemen do the job for us. And not to forget the mini-wars, the everyday antagonisms that flare up. They are everywhere to be found.

So yes, when I go out into the world I am reminded constantly just how rude and impolite and close to violence many people are. And it isn’t just the yobs!