Baltimore Study Cites Top 10 Rude Behaviors

According to a recent survey, discrimination in employment tops the list of offenses. “The research suggests that people are bothered more by transgressions of coworkers and strangers than by those of family and friends,” said P.M. Forni, director of the Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins University.

The list of “Terrible Ten” behaviors include:

1. Discrimination in an employment situation.
2. Erratic/aggressive driving that endangers others.
3. Taking credit for someone else’s work.
4. Treating service providers as inferiors.
5. Jokes or remarks that mock another’s race/gender/age/disability/sexual preference or religion.
6. Children who behave aggressively or who bully others.
7. Littering (including trash, spitting, pet waste).
8. Misuse of handicapped privileges.
9. Smoking in non-smoking places or smoking in front of non-smokers without asking.
10. Using cell phones or text messaging in mid-conversation or during an appointment or meeting.

The survey was conducted in May 2007 from employees of two Baltimore-based companies including employees and students at the University of Baltimore. The full list will be published in Forni’s new book, “The Civility Solution: What to do When People Are Rude.”