For the most part, people in my orbit are generally pleasant. Yeah, there’s the guy on the e-bike who speeds up behind you - silently - and then realizes the path is narrower than he thought and forces you off the road. Yeah, there are tailgaters. But overall, I witness people being more oblivious than hostile.
With that said, it can really help to make an effort (and sometimes, it really is an effort!) to be pleasant. When complaining about getting charged twice for an item, asking if maybe the scanner sensitivity had been changed rather than suggesting the cashiers were incompetent…. Asking if you’re joining the line at the end. Telling the clerk at the post office you appreciate everything they do.
It really feels like people don’t connect as much in person as they used to and that bad connections immediately assume malice. Sure, there are people who are angry, and/or unhinged - and rude. It’ d be great if more people made it a personal challenge of de-escalating these situations. Because when you are rude and someone meets you with an offer of help or grace, it’s far easier to feel a bit of remorse than if they scream at you, proving they deserved your ire! Which is also a way of saying we don’t expect much of each other…