A Reddit post shared by a Kannadiga woman who has been living in Bengaluru for the past 6-7 years has triggered a discussion about the growing hostility in the city.

In the post titled “I’m a Kannadiga and I’m done defending Bengaluru. This city deserves the hate it’s getting,” the woman recounted a disheartening personal experience that pushed her to a breaking point.

The user, who moved from a tier-2 city in Karnataka, said she was mocked by a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus conductor for knocking on the door while holding a phone.

“It felt unnecessarily humiliating. Just for knocking on a bus door while holding a phone?” she said in the post, adding that this incident is one among many where she has faced auto drivers and metro staff’s rude behaviour.

“A lot of them behave like they hate their jobs and are constantly irritated – like they’re waiting for a chance to lash out,” she added.

In the post, she also detailed a pattern that several users could relate with – how one is treated often changes based on appearance.

“The more well-dressed or ‘put together’ I look, the worse the attitude becomes,” she said, adding that speaking in Kannada usually softens people’s tone. “There’s this strange mix of entitlement and insecurity,” she said, suggesting that resentment may be stemming from Bengaluru’s rapid growth and growing income gaps.

What stood out for many readers was the observation that Kannadigas themselves were showing signs of fatigue and alienation.

“There’s this strange mix of entitlement and insecurity. I’m just tired. Bengaluru feels increasingly soulless,” the woman concluded, adding: “If you want to see how different Kannadigas can be – how warm and kind they’re actually capable of being – just go to the airport. Whether you’re flying out or coming back, the difference is shocking. The people there are so polite and welcoming, it genuinely makes you wonder if they’re even from the same city.”

Read the post here:

The Reddit post opened the floodgates to several similar anecdotes.

One user shared their ordeal with a bus conductor who shouted at them for paying with a Rs 50 note when their UPI failed.

Another user observed that tier-2 cities are calmer and more organised than chaotic metros like Bengaluru: “Anyone who moves from a tier-2 to a tier-1 city in India will feel this shift.”

“Essential facilities continue to deteriorate while attention is diverted elsewhere,” a user said. “Standing up for your rights has become risky. Many prefer silence over political intimidation.”

A common thread through the responses was the perception that people in public service roles, especially those dealing with large crowds daily, seem increasingly irritable and indifferent.

“There’s a definite change in public attitude. It’s like the city’s chaos has hardened everyone,” a user added.

– Ends

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