Gone were the days....

hello.i just want to share a story.i was in singapore last week to visit my aunt.one day we went for a stroll.on our way home,people are rushing through trying to catch a bus.it was very crowded and people started to become impatient.together with us was a 4year old boy,my nephew.when the bus came,we luckily manage to find a seat while others were standing on the aisle of the bus.i tried to talk to my nephew if he could give the seat he's occupying to an old lady standing next to our seat.at first he don't want to.i told him that i could let him sit on my lap and that, i have a story to tell.maybe he was curious about the story and so he let the old lady sit on his place. the lady was so happy. she couldn't stop saying thank you to my nephew and was really keep on shaking my nephew's hands. my point is,if we don't want to let go of our good deeds,then don't.let's make our part in teaching the ones because what they will learn and will practice depends on us.and in teaching them,let's also try to live what we teach.you know, the best part of teaching is becoming an example ourselves...there's a sincere smile on my heart as i read this.i'm glad there's still people who cares...thank you..

I had this grandmother who taught us the other side of the great oldies. She taught us not to bow before those who are old and not to use "po" and "opo" (These are Filipino particulars of respect.) because she believed that those who do these things are those who are hideous and in truth, delinquent. But despite the unusual teaching of my grandma, I still managed to practice those things because of its commonality in our society. I've taught myself to use po and opo and to do bows before anyone who is old in a family. The thing is, since I don't really do it at home, I've come to a place where it is actually done, in the presence of my inlaws. I just hope that my son shall express his respect in the Filipino way.

Yes, ist certainly seems so " Gone are the good old days". People have become too selfcentric now and seem to be forgetting the good old values. Having said that I'm a firm believer in those values and extend the meaning of them beyond helping and being chivalrous to even giving respect and following the right etiquette in the presence of elders or a lady.

Hi torchablazed Your discussion reminds me the good old days when we were made to listen to fairy tales where the chivalrous prince or even a poor blacksmith was so full of courteousness and respect for the elderly or ladies! Gone are those days! We hardly come across ppl who actually practise this. Many seem to confuse good values and chivalry towards omen as opposed to gender equality. But senior citizens, irrespectively of genders, need this care from us! After all they are the ones who have shaped our future! Thanks for a beautiful post!

I do agree that the values, good deeds etc are in a declining trend but .. i cant agree that they are a thing of the past. In fact, while coming back from college, i saw a young guy of about 16 give his seat to a woman as it was crowded and most of us were standing. I know such things are hard to find nowdays. But its not like we wont ever see something ike that again. I know i did, and i think i am willing to give my seat, or open a door or help someone cross the street in case i am not late for something. I guess its a personal choice.

I really do think manners are a thing of the past. Sadly, people no longer seem to respect others, nor are they willing to make time to smile at someone in the street. Last time my husband and I used a train to get home from the airport, we both stood up for over an hour, although the carriage was half full of young people - some in school uniforms. We are middle-aged and not disabled, but it would have been nice if even one young lad had offered his seat. We were pretty tired after a long journey, and it would have been nice to have had a sleep!

I am thankful for my granny and parents. They teach me great values. Actions like giving up my seat to someone who needs it more, escorting an old person across the road and etc, are taught to be since I was young. Even now that I am older, I still do it as I always believe that 'It's more blessed to Give'. Since I am now healthy and able to contribute to the society, I should. Children should be taught 'It's more blessed to Give, than to take'. It seems to me that many kids are too pampered nowadays. Their parents give them whatever they want and the children as a result, do not know the value of Giving.

oh yes i agree with you completely...we also had recepieces as well as cures...grand parents always had a cure to aches and pains..now adays nobody talks also about them..it is a shame

My father used to talk about his good old days. I was kinda irritated by this most of the time. He always tell the the children before was so obedient and helpful, unlike with my generation. Now that I am a aunt, I am experiencing what father used to complain. My niece is so much different from my generation. I still do the blessing of the hand, prioritizing old people when it comes to having a chair, I still obey with what my parents tell me even though I really hate it, I still do tradtional stuffs. My niece however, does not even know the word "sharing". Anyways, I do still try to educate my niece with traditional must to do things. And all I can say, that it is really hard. Because she usually spends most of her hours in school.

Since I am the old person these days, I occasionally still get a seat from a youngster on the bus, usually a girl for some strange reasons, so I know that one is still around My daughter knows that that is the right thing to do. She also has been taught the politeness of holding doors for others that are entering a place. I think all of the old values should be kept. It would be nice if the younger generations just had some manners and decency

I would like to think that there are still people out there doing kind things for people, especially the elderly or infirm. There are still instances where a man will open a door for me and I think it is a wonderful gesture still in this day and age. I like to help people especially if I feel it would help them. Not too long ago I saw a man struggling to wheel his own self in a wheel chair. It only took me a few minutes out of my time to help him stroll him across a street. We had a nice talk and I met a great person.

Hi torchablazed Yes, my grandparents too used to say a lot of stories. And I made sure my kids didn't miss this, they also used to hear stories from their grand parents, particularly grandmother. I remember when, for some reason, my parents were angry at me, I used to give them a slip and take shelter under my affectionate grandfather. I felt so secured. wow, it was really wonderful time. I tried to teach my kids that way. Let's see what'll happen in future.

I agree that the values and practices before were better than these days. But given the chance, I still try to keep and practise some of them. When in transit, I usually offer my seat to pregnant women, old people, kids and disabled people. As for my child, I keep on instilling the value of respect for the elderly as this is really a good value that should go on and on for generations.

people still practice this now. take my country for example kids or even adult give up seats to the elderly or the pregnant. i believe people will do it when the time is right.

I'm sorry as my observation may be slightly different. There's no point to under-estimate the present generations in terms of values. I think, they act more accordingly to the situation instead of protocol. I've seen them happily leaving seats for aged and sick person (Age alone may no more be a big criteria for them!). I've seen them helping handicapped people to cross a busy roadway. So, I believe good things are still there as these are immortal sense of responsibilities that have framed the backbone of your civilization. But on the contrary, please consider - would you ever feared of being gutted while playing with a toy (now toy bombs) years ago? Would you be afraid of landmines while walking out in the evening peacefully? World has changed a lot and so generation today must have developed a hard to break shell around them - pierce it, and you will have no reason to worry. Cheers!

I ride the bus and I still practice that. I offer my seat to the elderly and people with heavy/many bags. I allow the elderly to step on the bus before me and I hold doors for people. I think there are still many people out there who still practice these good manners. One thing that bothers me is when people eat with their mouths open. I'm an Asian American that grew up with Western manners. I find it hard to enjoy my food when my sisters or friends chew with strange noises while their food is clearly visible in their mouth. I can understand when we're at non-western restaurants where slurping your soup was proper. But in my house CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED.

It is really so sad to note that the modernity of times has left so many good values out. Although I could still few people doing the good values once in a while. Like giving seat to a lady. Every time I will see a man in the bus who would sacrifice his seat to a woman, I would always whisper the word "God bless your heart". The youth of today are mostly running out of GMRC or shall we make it much clearer by saying good manners and right conduct. Well the parents should be the one responsible in implanting the good values to our children. Let us not forget that we are the first who should teach them what is right and what is wrong and we should also be good examples.

I think that the values of respect and honesty should be retained by the youth today. I see a lot of young people who don't show to most older people anymore. Also a lot of them, says that lying is good unless you get caught. Well in those instances I just shook my head and hope that these children would realize that these two things are important in life.

i think good things r left in the past . today everybody is only interested in themselves.