WHEN did people suddenly become so angry with the world?

It was certainly before last week’s Brexit vote - although, of course, that made it worse. The reaction on social media from some individuals who were very unhappy with the outcome was appalling: name-calling and personal insults of all kinds.

I voted to remain in the EU but the more important principle involved is surely democracy? The people voted, this was the result. End of story.

Long before that, though, anger levels among ordinary people seemed out of proportion to any situation. If there are problems with transport, tempers quickly fray. If a football match doesn’t go your team’s way, we’re now back to violence from a lunatic fringe.

Even in televised debates, people get extremely angry about those whose views differ. Where once reasoned argument and conceding certain points might occur, now it is wholehearted disagreement voiced vociferously.

Our roads appear to be full of angry drivers unable to wait patiently at a traffic light – or slow down to stop. They either can’t wait to zoom off as green approaches, revving their engines and their stress limits, or refuse to acknowledge that there is a stop light imminent and bowl through whether the lights are changing or not.

Giving way to others on the road, using signals to indicate intentions or even obeying road markings that move traffic into a single lane from a dual carriageway are seen as signs of weakness by these angry souls. Instead, they insist on doing their own thing and never mind anyone else driving on the road.

It all ties in with the death of manners and the surge of selfishness among many people who insist on living their lives in a personal vacuum. There is a feeling that they have a “right” to behave as they want to and that is the first and last priority for them.

Social media has given them a platform to air their rightful opinions so, damn it, they will say exactly what they like, when they like as an extension of a way of life lived in a stressful and bad-tempered way.

This is not only very bad for society but very harmful for the health of individuals and leads to flashpoint situations arising from ordinary events. And if we don’t all start to calm down, not only will society explode but many individuals as well.