Are we a rude community?

We are constantly comparing ourselves to Cape Town residents and making broad statements such as, ‘Joburg is a much better place to live – the people are nicer here…’ – but are we really, as we like to think, ‘nicer’ than the rest of South Africa?

I like to think so. I love Joburg with all my heart and would not want to live anywhere else, but once I started thinking about our manners and they way we address people, I could not help but wonder if we really are as nice and friendly as we like to think we are.

A quick survey at my local watering hole gave me an idea of just how pleasant we truly are.

Many Joburg residents acknowledged the fact that they do not ask people how they are before getting to the point of their conversation. For example; while at the grocery store, do you greet the cashier or ask her how her day is going? Do you tell her to have a nice day before you depart or do you simply leave after paying? Time is money after all… When that dreaded call centre agent calls, trying to sell you the sun, the moon and anything else she can think of – are you polite and tell her ‘Thank you very much for asking but I am not interested’ or do you brush her off as quickly as possible, irritated by the fact that she has wasted your time?

Yes, we are a smashing bunch – but I don’t think we are as tolerant to people as we like to think we are.

I would like to challenge the Joburg community. Think about the way you treat your fellow community members – and change it for the better. Let’s really live up to our so-called reputation and prove that Joburg people are indeed wonderful, kind, polite and tolerant.