Where In America is Courtesy?

Question

I am an American citizen. I become more and more dumbfounded everyday as I witness an absolute lack of common courtesy by people everywhere. I'm talking about people pushing and shoving, little kids throwing derogetory comments at women and the list goes on.

Is courtesy absent from American culture?

Answer 1

Common courtesy and common sense are becoming frighteningly more and more rare. Example: I was in a cafe the other day and a young lady stood up and bent over, flipping her long hair over and then running a brush through it. People were eating at the table right next to her, and when the man at that table suggested that she do her hair in the rest room she told him to eff off and then she and her friend proceeded to laugh as they sat down. At that same cafe a man was changing his child's diaper on the floor beside his table rather than make the effort to pick up all his belongings and head to the changing station in the family rest room. What the heck??

Answer 2

I agree totally. It's usually better in small towns, and in the south it's better. In the northern part of the country for example, I've seen people get very impatient and angry with funeral processions, sometimes honking horns and even cutting through the line of cars! In the south, cars in the opposite lane will pull over to the side of the road out of respect, some even stand beside their vehicles with hats in hand. It just seems like this country is getting to be more selfish and disrespectful. I don't think courtesy is absent, but it's definitely fading fast.

Answer 3

No. But the dumbing down of America has turned education and manners into a popularity contest. The meanest must be the toughest. Whatever happened to the 220 pound man that coould tie his daughter's shoe laces in public. Did we lose, Strong enough to be Gentle? We have a lack of role models that are actually kind, kindness being a new form of stupidity(how did that happen?).

Answer 4

Parents today want to be their children's friend more than their parent. We are living in busy society today. Mom comes home from working 15 hours and it is easier to just give into her child than it is to make it mind. There are still some good parents out there, but all the kids I've seen lately are brats like u described and that is why I have no desire to have any.

Answer 5

Yes I agree that courtesy has become a commodity. But I have travelled to other countries and you can count them in too. Are you middle aged and remember when not being polite was next to murder? I miss those days.

Answer 6

No, I see it all the time. People letting other people go first, opening the door for them, etc.. Yes, I do see the other things, but I think they are more noticable than the nice things. Kind of like what makes the news.

Answer 7

Honestly, and I don't want to sound middle aged (LOL why do answers like that always mean that you are about to hear a middle aged comment?), I think that this is the result of permissive parenting of previous generations. Younger people nowadays only think of themselves...something that is foreign to my generation (I'm only 57).

Answer 8

no but anywhere thats busy like major cities your going to have a lack of courtesy.

Answer 9

In the South ,you still find it .
yes mam
no sir.
but i agree with you ,hard to find ,it starts from Diaper's ,before they even start babbling ,it's all the way you raised the little ones .
i came from the old culture ,I'm Portuguese and i raised my kid's
as such .

Answer 10

I agree that it is becoming worse daily. I think it is due to lack of education from parents. They cant teach it if it hasn't been taught to them.