lcuy

I hate to say it, but some of the worst "rudites" are also full blown adults...Old ladies with their candy wrappers in theatres, baby boomers cutting in and out of traffic, parents modelling rude behaviors on the soccer field.

We notice it more in kids, but it is our whole culture...we find it amusing to watch reality shows where the participants backstab each other, and violent movies where the ends justify any means.

Our elected representatives and CEOs of major corporations cheat, lie and steal and there are no consequences.

Travellers EXPECT to be upgraded, and get rude if the ailine or hotel wants to charge them for it. Hotel guest want compensation if a hotel's pigeons poop on their beach towel.

Our whole society has just gotten ruder, and the more it happens, the more many people think it is acceptable behavior.

Kal

Totally agree, lcuy!

I forgot about our little run in with a gal who was probably late 40s-early 50s at The Happy Talk Lounge for their Sunday night open jam over our last trip to Kauai.

She was telling her friend that they play some very good music and you never know who was going to drop by and sit in with the house band...

Then when the music finally started she felt she had to talk over the music and explain to ther friend (who after her 2nd 'tini could care less) about the current situation on the Homeowners Assoc and how stupid the BOD is and how she can drink 4 more 'tinis and be falling down drunk and STILL be smartin' than those people...etc etc...

Thanks goodness the food came so we got to hear at least 2 songs without her **yapping**.

JJ5

You have said the magic words, no consequences. At any age, that is what it really is coming down to now, and that is the fact of no consequences for impolite, vile, or selfish behaviors.
It was public censure/opinion that kept most of society polite "in public". Now it seems both individual "choice" and entitlement come before and beyond any kindness or manners.

It used to be my rights ended where your nose begun, or you got punched in yours. Now the punch or consequence is out, so the more selfish feel their rights include your space as well.

my2cents

Where's Miss Manners when you need her? ITA about no consequences and people unwilling to take responsibility for their actions. I remember two very clear lessons my mom taught me very young. One was when I was 8 yrs old and shoplifted a little toy from a local store (I was mad cuz mom wouldn't buy it for me). As soon as my mom saw I had it she marched me right back to the store, had me hand it to the shopkeeper, tell him what I did and apologize for taking it. The shopkeeper then thanked me for giving it back and told me about how much shoplifting costs storekeepers and how it hurts the bottom line of people trying to earn $$ to feed their families. I felt so bad I never shoplifted again!

The other lesson was when I was 12. I told a friend of mine I would go to the school carnival with her. Then another friend asked me horseback riding, which I love to do, so I called the first friend to cancel. When my mom found out she was aghast. She made me understand how hurtful it was to the first friend (and how I wouldn't like it if someone did that to me) and was it really worth a friendship just for a hour or two of riding horses? Needless to say I called both friends, apologized and switched the plans back and had a great time at the carnival.

I know there are alot of great parents out there raising great kids (I've seen them, even in this day and age) but back in the 1960's it seems like it was more the norm than the exception. I see so many parents in my area failing to teach their kids manners, what it means to be a good human being and how to play well with others that I was pleasantly shocked when a boy of about 8 yrs old or so said excuse me as he was navigating his way around the market - I rarely get that from adults, much less kids! If I wasn't on my way out the door to go fix dinner I was tempted to find his mother and thank her for doing such a great job!