The new, coarser world will likely be with us for years to come.
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Iftheworldseemstoyoualittlenastierandmoreconfrontationalthanitwasjustafewyearsago,you’renotalone.ManyAmericanssaytheworldisaruderplacethanitwasbeforetheCOVID-19pandemicandthepublichealthresponsesthatclosedtoomanybusinessesandschools,effectivelyconfinedsometotheirhomes,andisolatedlargenumbersofpeople.Unfortunately,bothcurrentevidenceandhistorysuggestwemaybestuckwithacoarserworldforyearstocome.
HalfofAmericansSayPeopleareRuderSinceCOVID“NearlyhalfofU.S.adults(47%)saythewaypeoplebehaveinpublicthesedaysisruderthanbeforetheCOVID-19pandemic,”PewResearchreportedlastweek.“Thatincludes20%whosaybehaviortodayis alotruder.”Aslightlylowernumber—44percent—saidthatbehaviorisaboutthesame,while9percentactuallyclaimthat“peoplearebehavingalotoralittlemorepolitelyinpublic.”
Wealreadyknewthatviolentcrime—murders,inparticular—surgedduringtheheightofpandemicdisruptions.Thankfully,thatviolentspikeappe
