Where did our manners go?

Question

When did the people of the US completely loose all sense of manners, etiquette, and respect for others? What do you attribute this to?

No, DJ...they are gone. You only have to drive down the road or go into a store to see how rude and self absorbed people are today...or just look at some of the Q&A on this site!

Answer 1

I agree with the concept of too much freedom. Heaven forbid you try to talk to a teen about manners. All you'll get is a loud F off, and if your really lucky, a beating by them and 20 or so of the closest peers. And as for children, yes I do agree that there is a severe lack of parental supervision as compared to the good old days when one parent worked and one stayed home. Although both my parents worked and I always say please/thank-you, etc. I have even had comments from people where I work (my second job is a cashier) that I am always so polite and it is nice to see. It all boils down again to lack of respect for anyone but ourselves. We are taught that we are the most important person in the world and that no one has the right to say anything to you that you don't like, be it teacher, parent, pastor (if anyone goes to church anymore), principle, or even the elderly neighbour down the block.

Answer 2

Human nature seems to remember the bad and not the good we hear or see. Maybe you are right and Its going to hell in an hand basket. But I have to also agree it is on the decline. Why? I see technology causing it, we have less and less interaction with people and become more and more spoiled with our gadgets that when something goes wrong it seems like the end of the world and service is never quick enough. I'm 35 single child, from a single mom in a tight net family. I have 7 kids and a wonder full wife. I have served out country in the NAVY and support my local community as much as I can. I am a Cub Scout Den Leader and A Member of the Boy Scouts Community. I do a good deed everyday. BUT I AM AN A$$ SOMETI'MES AND KNOW IT. IM NOT PROUD OF IT BUT IT HAPPENS. We are loosing sight of being brothers and seeking Independence, but Its UNITED WE STAND!!!

Answer 3

You're right, just two generations ago people had manners that wouldn't even be understood today. Children would never wise-off to grown ups. Doors were opened for ladies. Valuables could be left unattended .
I believe much of it started with Dr. Spock. He wrote books advising parents to let children express themselves. Mouthing off at their parents was okay. Destroying things,fine. Let them express themselves.
Another thing responsible, in my opinion, is T.V. and the computer. Sex,sex,sex. How about these questions ? Kids not old enough to go to the bathroom by themselves are asking about oral sex, anal sex, oral anal sex, animal sex. Kids brag about the size of their XXX, girls ask about fingering themselves.
Maybe the Victorian days were not that bad after all.

Answer 4

Its the whole family unit, it has fallen to the wayside and the manners have gone right with it. Men don't open doors anymore for the ladies, kids burp without saying excuse me. With parental influence these things become norm. Saying bless you when someone sneezes its long gone...unfortunate

Answer 5

considering yahoo answer is flooded with immature rebellious mindless disrespectful teens...majority of the people on this site will make the US's respect seem low. Other than that, people in the real world are generally ok.

Answer 6

I'm sorry, but I have to speak on my behalf. I was raised with manners, and I don't think they'll change, change for anyone I mean. But some people may have not been introduced to the whole 'mind your manners' scene, they probably didn't have any home-training.

Answer 7

Only recently were they lost. I remember things being much different growing up. It has to do with the fact that so many parents are trying to be friends instead of parents!

Answer 8

THE LIBERALIZATION OF SOCIETY.

When shame went out the window, it only follows that manners and civility are next.

Answer 9

When society decided it was "all about me".... whatever "I"want to do is OK, to heck what it does to someone else or how it affects them. I've said it before, sometimes too much freedom is a bad thing...

Answer 10

Our manners are doing just fine.

But I live in Canada.....so your experiences may differ.