Is it just me or is there a major etiquette erosion?

Question

It seems like today, people are incompetent and ruder than ever before. For example, when calling in to customer service to a lot of businesses I have to get through a touch tone maze, wait on hold for a long time and then get someone who hardly knows anything and sometimes cannot speak the language. I see people have less and less manners than in previous years. I feel that people are more focused on cell phone calls than paying attention to those around them. I hear news reports of bullying in schools and online. There is so much spam and phishing online today. I see that very few RSVP to things anymore. The media does not put out the truth as much in the news. A lot of people don't dress up much anymore. I see that ballrooms are used more for conferences than for dances. This is just the beginning of what I am seeing.

Do you agree or disagree with this and why or why not? Also, what can be done to reverse this trend if you agree with me?

Answer 1

You are quite right.  We are becoming so desensitized to general manners and etiquette.  I guess it is a sign of the times in this instant gratification and sound bite era.  All we can do is lead by example and teach our children to be more respectful.

Answer 2

You are not alone in your observations. ln our place, only a few say 'thank you' and l'm sorry'. lt's as if they live in caves and civilization hasn't reached them.

What saddens me is that most of the parents do not teach their kids proper manners. They leave it all to the teachers.

All they care about is work. The media is not a big help also as it often shows who's the latest celebrity to be in rehab and the next couple to divorce. We get all the bad news in a glamorized way.

The change should start from each one of us (all adults). We should be the model for our children to follow. A difficult task to fulfill but very rewarding in the future.

Answer 3

I agree, and it's a shame that the finer way of living has become decadent. And because many people grew up without proper etiquette they pass that on to their children.

I went to see Carmen by George Bizet in it's original French form (not Italian as many think) last month and because it was a huge event at a classy theatre I dressed extremely well. Floor-length dress and jewels. Other people however, dressed in short shorts, thongs, boob-tubes etc. No exaggeration there. Many even walked out complaining how it should have been in english.

Even in this section dedicated to proper etiquette many people just seem ignorant and childish, especially when their typing is illegible "4 exmpl lyk diis" and they end their two-cents with "if u dnt lyk it kisS my a--" [etc].

Ah, well, what can you do? One girl can't change the world; only her own life.

Answer 4

Yes, I totally agree with you on your observations and your analysis. People nowadays do not seem to care or share, but want everything to be right there and now. They want everything to be given to them like a Fast Food Restaurant Mentally Syndrome I called it. "Now Society." that is absolutely lacking patience, mannerism and considerable element of etiquette.

I will add more later on today because I have to go and sleep now.