Geoff Norcott

There seems like there's a gentleman at the back there.

What's your name, sir?

Colin.

Colin.

And what things make you grumpy in middle age, Colin?

Cretins on e-scooters.

Cretins on e-scooters.

In terms of things that make you grumpy, I'll go for some low-hanging fruit.

For me, it's people playing music out of their phones on public transport.

Yeah.

I thought that might get you that one.

On the one day a month that you still commute...

Furious, ain't you?

However, feeling a bit grumpy doesn't excuse going online and saying hateful things to strangers.

And data from the Alan Turing Institute does corroborate the idea that the majority of it comes from guys like me.

However, I wonder if part of that, at least, is cultural.

Part of white men's socialisation comes from the pub, where walking in and calling everyone a prick is considered a tad on the formal side.

Among our mates, we love to banter.

And if one of our friends delivers an opinion we think is poorly thought through, we'll often pick them up with nuanced challenges such as, shut up, Dave.

No one cares.