The same exact thing is literally happening everywhere right now. I work with people from all over the country and everyone is noticing this same increase in aggression and rudeness in folks, especially on the roads.

As someone who grew up here, moved away, and then chose to move back, I’d like to share my favorite story about “Vermont consciousness” and how “real” Vermonters treat folks from elsewhere.

My mother (the same kind woman that raised me here, but older now) was visiting from California and she had driven across the country in her Prius with California plates. We decided to go to lunch at Long Trail in Bridgewater. I drove both of us in her vehicle, a Prius, with CA plates. We missed a turn on our way there in the middle of nowhere. There was a house with some “gentlemen” out front, and I went to do a little turn around in the road, my front tires graced the fine gravel of the driveway.

As I did this, I waved and gave a friendly smile to my fellow Vermonters. One gentleman smiled back and approached the car as of to speak to us. It was then that this fine, Vermont conscious “true” Vermonter told me that if he ever saw me turn around using his driveway again he would drag me from my car and beat the “ever-loving piss” out of me.

I turned to my mom who smiled and said, “it’s good to be back home son, let’s go get some lunch.”

Disgusting.