What happened...?

Question

to civility, common sense, generosity, responsibility and manners?

Answer 1

America did away with all that!

Answer 2

It got in the way of important things, like money!

Seriously, it all comes down to parenting. People don't like to be the bad guy and tell their kids no, and instill responsibility and manners in their kids.

The decline of manners and such really hit in the 1960s with the hippy generation's thinking that kids should naturally raise themselves, and went downhill from there. And now parents barely spend time with their kids because of work and activities, expecting schools and sports teams to do their parenting for them, so it keeps getting worse.

No one's willing to admit - even to themselves - that they're part of the problem. They blame it on society and leave it at that. It can be fixed, and that would mean teaching parents what they should be doing, and no one has the funding or time to do that.

I know it was different before, because I'll have to do is look at my dad. He was born in 1936 and literally had manners beat into him (and no, I don't condone physical abuse). He says please and thank you all the time, among other things.

-From a former nanny.

Answer 3

Rugged individuality happened to civility, generosity and manners.
Common sense isnt common.
Responsibility must be imparted or earned the hard way. Those who do not have it can not impart it, so as the number of irresponsible parents rise the number of irresponsible children who become irresponsible parents rise.

Answer 4

When people are afraid and stressed out they sometimes act badly. The war has added to the stress. Don't take it personal or add to the problem by acting the same way. You don't know whats going on in that persons life. Don't judge others, they could be doing the same with you. One day this girl treated me badly and I was very upset. Later I found out her mother had died and it wasn't against me, she was just upset about her MOM. Don't assume anything about anyone unless you know. Everyone has bad days including you, have you always without fail been polite and nice??? Don't think so. Good Luck

Answer 5

I'd like to know that myself. I think the social revolution of the 60s taught society that anything the individual wants to do is OK and if it hurts someone else that's just too bad. Couple that with parents who insist on giving their children everything they ask for or demand and refusing to teach them how to treat other people with respect because they put up with it and teach their children that they aren entitled to everything by demanding it, little by little the cultural morays of society have been eroded as to be almost nonexistent.

Answer 6

When people decided that manners were too phony, they didn't realize that manners were the lubrication that helps keep society from breaking down.

Answer 7

Hmm...

Civility, is shamefully, being killed. Why? Because of the 'Me, Me, Me' culture that Capitalism brings..go figure

Common Sense, however, should be allowed to die. Its reactionary, un-educated, ofter brutish and very rarely thoguht out

Answer 8

Bill O' Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and Faux News have done as much as possible to remove these words from our language.

Answer 9

Are these things legal in the US? I'm not sure...I mean you might be able to tie them into religion somehow. And we can't have that in our schools or places of business.

Answer 10

I agree with buffyfan: you're asking alot of questions this is like the 3rd or 4th one you've asked.

Answer 11

great question by someone who had the nerve to post. go hump yourself as an answer to a legit question I had asked