Our social media feeds are full of it: people behaving badly on planes, airports, supermarkets, kids' athletic fields, and school board meetings. Whether you witness the rude behavior or on the receiving end of it -- the effects can be pretty harmful: increased anxiety, depression, loss of sleep.
But there are some ways to protect ourselves from the toxic effects of rising incivility.
Letha Muhammad, a Wake County mother and education advocate had her own run-in with the rise of incivility at last week's Wake Board of Education meeting. She came to urge the board to make culturally-affirming books and curriculum a priority in the budget.
"And as I'm giving those comments, a gentleman to the right of me in the audience yelled out, 'pervert,' to me," she recalled.
Muhammad describes feeling shocked and attacked; and admits the comment made her lose her cool. She turned to the man who yelled the insult and said, "F--- you."
"It was a word that came immediately to my mind just based off of feeling attacked and unsafe," she told ABC 11. "It really felt like the person was trying to bully me. I don't think it's OK for it to be a space where people feel threatened or bullied by other parents or bystanders."
Mehud Mankad, a Triangle psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Alliance Health tells ABC11, the toxic discourse "really does wear people down."
"Data suggests that over 70% of Americans in this country believe that we are at crisis levels of incivility," Mankad added.
Blame the pandemic, or politics, or a seemingly ever-present feeling of uncertainty -- it's leading to more us lashing out. And others responding in kind.
"And so that sets up a reinforcing dynamic of incivility," said Mankad.
The psychiatrist's suggestions to turn the tide include learning to walk away or defuse a confrontation. His other suggestion, he admits, may be tougher for some.
"When you find that there's someone who holds an opinion that is passionate and opposed to yours. Try to figure out why."
One week since the ugly incident at Wake school board, Muhammad says she's not deterred. "I have a voice that will not be silenced by any bully," she said.
But she acknowledges she's spoken to other parents wary of even attending school board meetings in the current climate. She's trying to change that. Her nonprofit, Education Justice Alliance, is sending out flyers to encourage more parents to show up in solidarity for next month's meeting in two weeks.