Avoid Grumpy People

Its funny how you suddenly can see meaning in the simplest things.

I am on a plane flying from London to Berlin. Next to me is a German businessman going home. The flight attendants are providing food and beverage service (full english breakfast this morning!).

But the German man is not having any of it. In fact he ignores the attendants when they ask him if he would like anything - but its not as if he is sleeping and can't hear them. When they are persistent and catch his attention he is rather short and somewhat rude with a "No" in reply without the least attempt at a smile.

Why is he being so grumpy?

Well clearly English is not his first language - though he seems to get at least a few basics out and I assume he has some understanding if he was doing business in England. But I expect he is less than comfortable in English.

Now he has an iPod on. Not loudly; I can't hear the tinny noise from it being too loud. And he is reading a magazine.
Surely the music (if there is any at all) is quite secondary.

It seems to me that he does not want to engage in any way. He wants privacy while in a public space. He is rebuffing the expectation of others that having paid for business class he is wanting some service and special treatment. But clearly he does not.

So he is acting in a way that gives other the signal that he is not to be approached. He is using very short speech, a lack of or even contemptive facial expression and a serious tone of voice. The grumpy man wants to be left alone.

Hmmm.
Is that what grumpy is?
Is grumpy a form of self isolation when in public?
Is grumpy necessarily at least one stop short of angry?

I think it must be short of angry - though from my own behaviour I can see how it can move from grump to angry when others don't respond correctly to the signals and keep trying to invade his self-imposed exile.

Hmmm. That is an idea that might be useful for the kids to know and understand. Grumpiness just means "I need some quiet time to myself" - rather than meaning "I am angry with you."

Well now! I feel better already!