Are good manners important to you, or don't they really matter these days?

Question

Not just 'pleasel' and 'thank you' but what about polite manners like giving up your seat for someone older, or holding a door open, or asking people at neighbouring tables in a restaurant if it's OK for your to smoke.
Do you think these things matter, or are they old-fashioned?

Answer 1

To me they are of the highest importance & sadly rather rare in society today. A smile, a thank you, assistance to someone in trouble, listening to someone who needs an ear etc, etc, etc, adds to the serenity of life. Do tend to over compensate with ignorant people by being extra mannered but seems to rub off. Keep the faith.

Answer 2

I appreciate good manners, but the existence of good manners these days is limited, if there is any at all. For the most part good manners were around in the 70's, took a hit in the '80-90's and virtually are disappearing now. Just look at the road rage drivers for a perfect example of differences of then and now. In the last week a women with a cart full of stuff just pushed right to the front of the line in the store bold as brass, you should have heard the screaming match, I just watched and it confirmed for me the type of people out there today,the attitude of me, me, me. Does anyone care about anybody else these days? Well it's like the world is gonna end or something, well it was just as likely to end back in the '70's and you didn't see all this behaviour happening.

Answer 3

Old fashioned they may be, but what do we do without some form of courtesy in our society? I think the way I was brought up (born 1951) was the right way and tried to instill the same values on my own child. these days alot of kids don't give a sh.t for their own parents let alone complete strangers and this is the fault of the parents not the kids.
Good manners are very important even more so these days.
A thing I also try and do is if I get good service say in a shop or restaurant and the person is really pleasant I always make a point of telling them how nice they have been and that I really appreciate it, because I think if they are having a bad day that might make them feel better for the whole day and cheer them up making their job a little more worthwhile. It doesn't cost me anything and I know they deserve it so why not?

Answer 4

'Manners' matter to me and as a 32 year old I've got to say that my good manners have over the years alienated me from others who think less of me for having them.

I have stopped going to some shops because I find the staff to be rude and impolite.

I raise my own two boys with the simple premise that they should treat others as they would expect others to treat them.

I personally think manners are more important than ever. In times when people around you are threatening I find it very reassuring to be around people who have good manners and as a manager it affects people whom I want to employ also.

One final thought that I will throw in - Has anyone else noticed that 'older people' are often the most rude and impolite? It is almost like they reach a certain age and think that it does not matter anymore. These are usually the same ones who go on about the youth of today.

Oh and I just remembered I did offend a lady a couple of years ago - what did I do? I held the door open for her. She called me a sexist pig! I have not let it put me off.

Answer 5

Good manners cost nothing. Rudeness, bad manners and ignorance could cost a hell of a lot. I was shocked on a trip to the States, when in a McD drive though, my driver said, 'Gimme a....., gimme a......, gimme a.....'. No sign of please or, at the end, thank-you. On my flight home, our steward asked if we wanted a drink. The young American boy next to me said, 'gimme a coke',. So did his sister. I asked for a 'beer please'. The look of shock on the stewards face was one to behold. Please? From a passenger? Oh, he's English. Whether it's just rude New Yorkers or not I don't know.

Sadly, we seem to be slipping all over the world now. Walk down any street here (London) and the attitude of people is 'I'm walking here so get out of the f**king way'. The youths of today seem intent on intimidating everybody as they go about there business. There is not need for it. It seems sadly, that good manners are a thing of the past.

Answer 6

I think good manners are very important and serve as more than just social etiquette. As we go through life, the least we can do is to try to make a difference and aim to leave the world a better place or humanity at a higher level. Naturally, we cannot all achieve GREAT things but even the smallest acts of kindness and consideration that we perform can affect another person's life for the better in ways which we may not even be aware of. I think good manners go hand in hand with good (clear) conscience and, armed with these, one would always choose right over wrong and thus raise the level of humanity.

Answer 7

It seems with the way youth are in today's world that manners are a lost art...When I was a child it was ingrained in my sister's and myself that manners were to be used at all times even with family...My mom was always getting compliments about how well-mannered we were. It was a source of extreme pride for my mother. Now days, you can teach your kids manners when they are small, but the minute they get in school you might as well forget it...because you can bank on it they have. I have never seen kids so bent on doing the opposite of what they are taught as this generation is. I don't blame the parents always, sure there are parents whom are bad lots like there always have been, but for the most part I think we all try it's just not getting us anywhere.

Answer 8

Yes, I believe good manners are extremely important, especially table manners. Todays society don't eat as a family at the table, therefore young children haven't a clus even how to hold the knife and fork never mind a simple thing like closing your mouth whilst eating. This is a real bug bear of mine.

Answer 9

I think good manners are extremely important and sadly, in our present day environment, they are not being used very often, it seems. I don't think it is old fashioned to be giving up a seat on a bus for someone older or holding a door open etc. It shows concern for another person. This is what is lacking in society today - lack of respect and lack of basic good manners and concern for other people.

Answer 10

Good manners and common courtesy never EVER EVER go out of style.

Being able to present yourself civilly and to treat others with courtesy and respect are what create a better society!!

Although I do know how to set a proper table, I still feel there ARE more important things than knowing which fork is which. Being able sit at a table and carry on a polite conversation (and not eat wtih your elbows on the table, or chew with your mouth open) is important!

Offering your seat to someone who can really use it - a senior or a pregnant woman - is important. Holding a door open for the person walking in behind you is important. It's these little acts of respect that make the world a better place.

Answer 11

Of course good manners matter.

MANNERS MAKETH THE MAN.

Good manners cost nothing, so why not use them?

What's wrong with being pleasant and considerate to folk?

Is it considered 'cool' these days to let a door slam in somebody's face as happened to me the other day?