Why are security guards often rude?

[Anonymous]

Whenever I go to a concert, sports event, etc, I notice that the security staff is usually very rude. Even politeness (smiling, saying thank you), is often met with a cold, emotionless face and no answer. I understand that their job is to keep people safe and not engage in futile chit chat, but their rudeness ruins the mood of the events. I was wondering if maybe they're instructed to act that way?

[Joshydavid25]

As someone who has worked in Security, I agree.. Some guards are unnecessarily rude.. I always tried my best to treat people the way I would want to be treated.. I just think the rude people they deal with often makes it easier them. to treat everybody sort of stern bordering on rude I suppose..

[JustTypingOutLoud]

As an officer , it’s because we lose patience with everyone after all the disrespect over the years. I’ve been an officer for three years now , and every year I’ve worked at my site the disrespect gets worse and worse. You’re stereotyped as “ lazy “ or “ failed cops “. Often working in horrible environments and conditions and spit on for enforcing common sensible rules. It’s hard to be kind when someone was an asshole just five minutes ago. I have been cussed at over removing trespassers, and when I say “ removing “ I mean giving them a reminder that we are closed and I need them to leave so I too can go home after working in 105 degree weather for 8 hours. We are humans. Consider that.

[primebreadenjoyer]

Not to sound rude, but I've been doing this for a decade and I don't resort to being mean. I'm polite, but firm. If people can't follow the rules, we have the ability to enforce them. It's about how you conduct yourself.

[NewWaves]

Why would it ruin the mood of an event unless you spend time interacting with them the whole time?

[JustinTheGreat]

Because most people who go into those kinds of jobs (security, police officer, etc.) do it because they get a high off of being an authority and treating people like shit.

[KrakenAttackin]

Wrong. I deal with the public everyday and it takes a firm hand to keep them safe from themselves and each other.

[JustinTheGreat]

@KrakenAttackin I’m not saying everyone in that industry is like that. But someone is a douchebag and they get off on controlling people, those tend to be the jobs that they lean towards.

[KrakenAttackin]

@JustinTheGreat. That may be true, but the public has no shortage of douchebags that have to be kept inline. Come out to the highway and you will see just how many idiots have to be dealt with harshly just to get their attention.

OP needs a safe space to protect her from security guards who don't flirt with her.

[MrOracle]

It's because their job isn't to be polite, or provide customer service or assistance. Their job is to stay hyper focused on their actual job, which is security, without being distracted. If that security guard is taking the time to be polite and nice to you, he is being distracted by you. That goes against their training.

At a concert, their first duty is to protect the talent. Their secondary job is to make a reasonable effort to keep concert-goers from getting hurt. Politeness is WAAAAAY down the list of priorities.

Unless you are the talent or are in management with the venue, you shouldn't be interacting with security at all, short of an emergency. Most concerts have ushers to provide customer service - you should not be bothering security for that.

[RingOfFire]

It's part of controlling the crowd. You need to have a certain fear of these people or they cannot do their job effectively. Those who would cause problems need to know that security is serious and not fooling around. They need to be feared or they cannot be effective.

That fear is what prevents a lot of trouble. It works for countries, they need to create fear in their enemies to keep them from aggression, it works for a police forces, and it works for security guards.

[DryGermanGuy]

A lot of stress, shift rotation, shitty payment... But yeah, I agree, they should be more polite. At my latest flight a security Karen screamed at an Arab traveler because he did not put his jacket into a tray fast enough for her liking. It was ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the situation sometimes people think they’re rude only because they are doing their jobs. Some are great people doing their job. As for others they’re wanna be cops who take themselves too serious and want to exert any little power they have over people.

[AviatorTom]

It's part of their training. Acting rude can trigger a negative response in someone, perhaps a troublemaker, and that's what they are trained to look for.

[genericname85]

well probably cause they get callous after interacting with the scum of the earth all the time. like if you're a normal reasonable person, you probably won't even ever interact with security. but they only get to see the shitty people.

[paledreams]

Isn't that part of the logic of the role? They're there to be present, observant and focused. 😃

[paledreams]

Any sign of weakness ruins the strong presence 👍🏻

[Dargil]

I was one. They think they are cops and think rudeness projects power.

[JustTypingOutLoud]

Sounds like you were just a horrible person with bad motives tbh.

[Dargil]

@JustTypingOutLoud Didn't say I did that but I observed it.

[lorenzomichael]

I couldn’t tell you because I try not talking to security guards. I mean what am I going to say to there dumb ass?

[KrakenAttackin]

Are you this fucking fragile? You try controlling a crowd of drunk, high, idiots; and see how your demeanor changes.

[David5668]

Pretend Policeman thing. Like to think they’re something they’re not.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Most have barely dull-normal intelligence and are fugly !!!

[nawtee_me]

It is in their job description…. lol

[Jmmmfi4]

JUST LIKE COPS THEY'RE FUCKING DICK HEADS

[Anonymous]

They can be rude, but they can get laid 😎