Rude People and How to Deal With Them: Why Kindness, Equality and Respect Matter

Disclaimer: This article is intended for awareness, education, and discussion purposes only. It reflects general observations and lived experiences relating to customer service, workplace dignity, equality, and human behaviour. It does not constitute legal, medical, psychological, or professional advice. Views expressed regarding public figures and world events are contextual and illustrative in nature and are used to highlight broader themes of power, language, and dehumanisation. Readers are encouraged to engage respectfully, think critically, and seek appropriate professional or organisational guidance where needed.

Think Before You Speak – Be Kind & Respectful Always!

Rudeness in customer service environments is becoming increasingly common, and its impact is far deeper than many people realise. Behind every uniform, name badge, or counter is a human being with emotions, responsibilities, and vulnerabilities. No one deserves to be spoken to with contempt, belittled, or treated as if their feelings do not matter.

Most organisations now operate a zero-tolerance policy towards abusive behaviour, and rightly so. Respect should never be optional.

A Real-World Example: When Words Cause Harm

Imagine a customer entering a shop with an already hostile tone, sharp posture aggressive, talking down to a customer advisor from the very first sentence. The advisor attempts to help, remains calm, polite, and professional, yet nothing she says is good enough. She is interrupted, dismissed, and spoken to as if she were inferior.

Eventually, overwhelmed and distressed, the advisor walks off the shop floor in tears.

This is not “part of the job.”
This is emotional harm.

Customer service staff are not emotional punching bags. They are there to assist, not to be degraded.

Why Are Some People Rude and Entitled?

Rudeness often has little to do with the situation at hand and far more to do with internal struggles or distorted beliefs, such as:

Entitlement: believing the world owes them special treatment
Superiority complexes: masking insecurity by asserting dominance
Stress, frustration, or lack of control: elsewhere in life
Learned behaviour; normalising disrespect because it goes unchecked

Talking down to others does not make someone powerful; it exposes weakness.

Why do people feel entitled or superior

Social hierarchies: Throughout history, societies have created systems of class, caste, race, or wealth that elevate some groups above others. These structures can make individuals believe they are inherently “better.”
Psychological needs: Some people seek validation or control. Feeling superior can be a defense mechanism to mask insecurity or fear.
Cultural conditioning: From childhood, people may be taught, explicitly or subtly, that certain traits (skin color, gender, wealth, education) make them more valuable.
Power and privilege: Those with resources or influence often rationalize their position by believing they “deserve” it more than others.
Ignorance or lack of empathy: When people fail to recognize shared humanity, they may focus on differences instead of commonalities.

Do people ever learn equality?

Religious teachings: Many faiths, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, emphasize that all humans are equal before God, often tracing lineage back to Adam and Eve.
Science and biology: Modern biology shows that humans share 99.9% of their DNA, breathe the same oxygen, and have the same red blood, reinforcing our fundamental equality.
Life experiences: Encounters with injustice, suffering, or diverse communities can awaken empathy and humility.
Education and awareness: Learning history, philosophy, or ethics often challenges superiority complexes and highlights shared humanity.
Spiritual growth: Some people come to realize through reflection or faith that pride and superiority are illusions, and that humility brings peace.

Superiority Complexes on the World Stage

We see this behaviour mirrored at the highest levels of power. When world leaders use dehumanising language, such as Vladimir Putin referring to EU leaders as “little pigs”, it reflects the same dangerous mindset: “I am better than you.”

Vladimir Putin recently lashed out at European leaders, calling them “little pigs” or “piglets” in speeches tied to the Ukraine war. He accused Europe of trying to profit from Russia’s collapse, dismissed peace proposals, and threatened further military escalation.

What happened

Putin’s insult: At Russia’s annual Defense Ministry meeting, he referred to EU leaders as “little pigs” who backed the U.S. in hopes of feasting on Russia’s downfall.
Blame on the West: He claimed former U.S. President Joe Biden “consciously unleashed” the war in Ukraine, with Europe following suit.
Failed plans: Putin argued that Europe’s attempts to weaken Russia have “completely failed,” boasting of Russia’s economic and military resilience.
Military threats: He warned that Russia would deploy new weapons, including the Oreshnik missile system in Belarus, capable of striking London in minutes.
Diplomacy dismissed: While saying Russia is “ready for dialogue,” he insisted it won’t be possible with current European politicians, suggesting talks only after elites are replaced.
Peace deal collapse: His remarks came as U.S.-backed peace proposals were being discussed, but Putin rejected them, vowing to achieve Russia’s goals “unconditionally”.

Risks and implications

Escalation: Threats of deploying new missiles raise fears of widening the conflict beyond Ukraine.
Diplomatic deadlock: By insulting EU leaders and dismissing current negotiations, Putin signals little interest in compromise.
Propaganda strategy: Analysts note that such language is meant to rally domestic support by portraying Russia as besieged but resilient.
Global concern: Belarusian president Lukashenko warned the war could spiral into a “global conflict” if not frozen soon.

Putin’s rhetoric is not just about insults; it’s a calculated move to project strength, undermine European unity, and frame Russia as the victim of Western aggression. The “pig” remark is symbolic of his contempt for current EU leadership, but also a way to deflect from Russia’s own actions in Ukraine.

From a psychological and political lens, superiority in figures like Putin can stem from:

Power dynamics: Long-term control over a state apparatus can foster a belief that one’s perspective is above criticism.
Propaganda and image-building: Leaders sometimes use harsh language to rally domestic support, portraying themselves as strong against “outsiders.”
Historical narratives: Russia’s leadership has often leaned on ideas of exceptionalism, seeing itself as a unique civilization that must resist Western influence.
Deflection: Insults can be a way to shift attention from internal challenges, projecting strength outward instead of vulnerability inward.

While some leaders project dominance, the reality is that all humans share the same basic needs and fragility. That’s why the reflection on equality, oxygen, food, sleep, and shared ancestry cuts through the illusion of hierarchy so powerfully.

Why superiority persists despite equality

Even though we all eat, sleep, breathe, and share the same human needs, superiority persists because:

Systems of inequality are deeply entrenched.
People often confuse material success with moral worth.
Fear of losing status makes some cling to superiority.

In essence, superiority is a human-made illusion. Equality is the reality, whether seen through faith (one God, one creation) or science (shared biology). The challenge is whether individuals and societies choose to embrace that truth.

But the truth is simple.

We are all descendants of Adam and Eve.
We eat, sleep, and breathe oxygen.
We all bleed red blood.

If any one of us needed a blood transfusion to survive, we would not be given the luxury of choosing where that blood came from. Humanity does not come with hierarchies when life is on the line.

Equality: No One Is Better Than Anyone Else

Regardless of wealth, status, job title, gender, or power:

We are all human
We are all vulnerable
We are all equal

There is one God, regardless of religion, and no belief system grants permission to devalue another human being. No one has the right to think they are superior to the person standing beside them.

Kindness costs nothing. Arrogance costs everything.

Men and Women Are Equal

Men and women should be classed as equal, full stop.

Yes, some men may be physically stronger, but strength does not define worth, intelligence, or capability. Women are just as capable of working, leading, building, problem-solving, and succeeding in every area of life.

Outdated thinking, such as expecting women to wash, cook, and clean simply because they are women, reduces them to housekeepers. This belief is not only wrong, but it is also harmful and deeply disrespectful.

Women are not servants.
They are equals.

Dehumanisation and “Collateral Damage”

When world leaders refer to human lives as “collateral damage,” they strip people of their humanity. No one has the right to take a life, justify suffering, or use people as expendable tools for power or control.

Every life matters.
Every voice matters.
Every person deserves dignity.

How Organisations and Individuals Can Respond to Rudeness

For organisations:

Enforce zero-tolerance policies consistently
Support staff emotionally and practically
Remove abusive customers when necessary

For individuals:

Set boundaries calmly but firmly
Do not engage with aggression
Walk away if you feel unsafe or distressed

Respect is not something staff should have to earn; it is a basic human right.

Forgiveness Over Revenge

In a world that often encourages retaliation, punishment, and public shaming, forgiveness remains one of the most powerful yet misunderstood human choices. Forgiveness does not mean excusing harmful behaviour, forgetting what happened, or allowing boundaries to be crossed again. It means choosing not to carry hatred, resentment, or a desire for revenge in our hearts. Seeking punishment may offer temporary satisfaction, but it rarely brings peace. Forgiveness, by contrast, frees the person who was hurt far more than the one who caused the harm. When we let go of revenge, we reclaim our emotional well-being and prevent bitterness from taking root. Learning to forgive is not weakness; it is strength, wisdom, and a profound act of self-respect.

Forgiveness often works on two levels:

Spiritual trust: It acknowledges that ultimate judgment or correction lies beyond us, in God’s hands.
Personal freedom: It lightens the emotional burden for the one forgiving, allowing peace instead of bitterness.

Forgiveness has transformed some of history’s darkest conflicts into paths toward peace and healing. It doesn’t erase the harm, but it allows societies to move forward without being trapped in cycles of revenge. Here are some powerful examples:

Historical examples of forgiveness

Nelson Mandela and the end of apartheid: After 27 years in prison, Mandela chose reconciliation over revenge. As president, he created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where victims and perpetrators could share their stories. This act of forgiveness helped South Africa begin healing from decades of racial oppression.
Post-war reconciliation in Germany: After World War II, Germany confronted its atrocities through reparations, memorials, and public acknowledgment of wrongdoing. This commitment to remembrance and forgiveness allowed Germany to rebuild its identity around democracy and human rights.
Rwanda, after the 1994 genocide: Communities used the Gacaca court system to openly address grievances. Survivors confronted perpetrators, and forgiveness became a tool for national unity. Today, Rwanda has rebuilt itself into one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
The U.S. Civil Rights Movement: Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized non-violence and forgiveness, even in the face of systemic racism. His philosophy of loving one’s enemies helped transform American society and inspired global movements for justice.
Mahatma Gandhi’s approach: Gandhi’s insistence on non-violence and forgiveness toward colonial powers showed that moral strength could dismantle oppression without hatred.

Key insight

Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or excusing harm—it means choosing compassion over resentment. In each case, forgiveness was paired with truth-telling, accountability, and justice mechanisms, ensuring that healing was genuine rather than superficial.

Conclusion: Choose Kindness

We are all far more alike than we are different. No job role, status, or title makes one human being superior to another. The measure of a person is not how they treat those above them, but how they treat those they believe they have power over.

Kindness, empathy, and respect should not be radical ideas.
They should be the standard.

Forgiveness has the power to transform conflicts by breaking cycles of retaliation, fostering reconciliation, and opening space for new beginnings. It’s a reminder that even in the most painful circumstances, choosing forgiveness can reshape entire nations.

If we all paused before speaking, remembered our shared humanity, and chose compassion over contempt, the world, and even the shop floor, would be a far better place.

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Rude People and How to Deal With Them: Why Kindness, Equality and Respect Matter

Think Before You Speak – Be Kind & Respectful Always!

A Real-World Example: When Words Cause Harm