Manners ... not so common nowadays

They say it's better to adapt to the times and places. Politeness there, but rare and well hidden, in most cases politeness is seen as exploitable weakness. The old ways, is just a phrase to refer to a time and a social framework in which to be mannered, or educate your children to be polite and good sense, was not considered a make them more vulnerable manner, or to give them somehow, by this behavior, a "vulnerable weakness." Boorishness and rudeness have always been and will continue to occur. Do not live in an illusion that the past was somehow better just because it's somewhere far away and that is somehow acquires a certain aura. But living in a world that shows me that what I learned and the manner in which I was educated, values ??and principles that guided me and that I try to make them known and those around me, sometimes a remnant at least "strange "world of my grandparents.

When economy goes through crisis people respond to it by being rude to others. This is not a theory. Me and my friend actually noticed it. Which part of United States is that? Couple of days ago, that same thing happened with me also. I held the door for a family kids and their mom. Of course, they did not say thank you. But what bothered me was that other people also took advantage of me holding the door and tried to get inside quickly. I got mad and just took my hands off the door. I did not care if it was going to hit someone. I know I shouldn't have done this. But it can be quite annoying when people do that.

Oh, yes, I've noticed this too. Especially that part you mentioned about holding a door open for the person behind you. They apparently think you're a doorman or something and they just breeze past you without even a nod of thanks. And these are educated people and well-to-do in life. I guess it really boils down to how they were brought up. We really need not only to teach our kids proper manners and everything, but we also have to set examples ourselves so that they could emulate it and hopefully carry that trait when they're older and have a family of their own.

Its not just the young people. It seems to be just society in general but I've long since passed the point of caring about the deplorable manners of people and the other unfortunate decay across the board. Even if it it does make me cringe that "please" and "thank you" seem like words that might as well be another language, by a select number of people that still learn it. Of course, perhaps those who still have manners would be the fools. Polite people tend to be regarded with a bit more scorn by many these days. I hate for that to be but you can't do much. The changes have already occurred this road. If you were taught manners, then you were taught wrong as far as the majority of society goes. Any manners that are exhibited are by a select few or done so as a political public relations ploy. A sad state of the world.

Hi sunlight! urrgh... is my initial reaction if you happened to release the door when i pass by without thanking you ! joke. Really nowadays, seldom we find gentlemen who use to do things like what you are doing. I remember one time, taking a bus with so many passengers sitting down that i manage to stand the whole trip. Nobody offers me a seat not even men as i expected. Whewww ! quite discouraging to notice... Good to know, that trip wasn't long enough to have my varicose appeared. :) I said to myself, base on my experience that the world really changes. Unlike before i used to hear lot of gentlemen but now i seldom see. If we will not initiate the move to awaken the people nowadays, they will never be aware of such changes even a simple good manner to show will create a big impact to their lives. Good thing that you take the first move in doing it... that means influencing the people with your behavior towards them will create them a diversion to do it the same as you did.

I think you are touching upon street mannerism, which can also be applied to mannerism in general. Like you, if I notice vehicles/drivers stop when I try to cross a street, I wave my hand at the car. Especially at night, I would not be able to see a driver, I just show my hand or palm showing appreciation. As far as others, it seems like many do not care whether a vehicle/driver stops for them or not. They might think that vehicles/drivers have responsibility to stop for pedestrians attempting to cross a street. It could also be that many do not know how to show appreciation. It comes down to questioning many parents nowadays. Teaching kids to say 'please' and 'thank you' is not enough. Do they make their kids aware about behaving in public and showing proper manners with others?

No I don't agree. I hold doors open for people and while the odd one or two just walk through most people say thank you or nod their thanks. As to the crossing example a zebra crossing is part of the road furniture and you stop just as you stop at a red traffic light. Then people cross as they are supposed to it is not a question of politness just the traffic regulations. "Especially young people" The Romans were saying this 2000 years ago. Old people typically say this sort of thing about the young and no doubt when you were young old people were saying something similar about you. In other words manners are just as common as they always were they may change slightly over time but not much it is the peoples perception as they get older combined with an inaccurated memory of past events that creates this strange and continuing aspect of human thinking process

I agree with you at 100% but I wouldn't say especially young people don't have good manners. I am 21 years old and I do thank everytime someone stops with they car to allow me to cross the road or I keep the door open if there is someone behind me, and even the classic gentleman's move...ladies first. I do that because I do apreciate all the small kind action that a stranger can do to me and I like to be kind and respectful for other people. I agree a lot of people do not have manners, but that has to do first probably with the parents, ( I was first taught good manners, then growing up I agreed to apply them on a daily base) then I think some people are a bit arrogant thinking that for example the car stopped because they MUST stop to let the pedestrian cross. Some young people do not have manners, but I have seen some old lady on the tram pushing people in a very rude way and also adults not thanking if I did something nice to them. It all depends on the person, some people are thankful and kind others not. I say keep being the nice person you are anyway, if they are not, well they are wrong not you

If I were one of the people crossing right when you just stopped, you'd see me nodding and mouthing out the words "thank you" (although sometimes, in shyness, while looking at the floor). They say "thank you" is a phrase you should give in abundance, so I say it every chance I get. People should try it. You'll get a whole lot of smiles in return. :)

I have a theory and like any theory it could be wrong. Nowadays, things are different. If someone could get in a time machine and go backwards in time they would find a few things very different. If someone behaved as was described in the start of this discussion, we would get the folks in those days waking people up by saying things like, “hay there buddy, do you have a door problem or listen lady I don’t bite you know.” This is a different world. People do not behave the same. One bright summer day in the city last year, I was gaily offering, hello’s and it is a nice day greeting to strangers and noticed that not everyone responded. I was ignored. How will effect my future behavour.

Yes i agree with that, there are just some people who are impolite. They don't even say thank you if you have done something good or favor for them. Well, as for me, i don't expect them to say thank you, but if that person has manners, he/she will still thank you. AS you said about the hold the door open for someone, I've done that many times, and seems i haven't heard any thank you from them. I don't know why this days, some people lack manners.

I completely agree there is a huge lack of manners in my generation and the ones that follow me. I see where people maybe busy sometimes to say thank you or your welcome, but I agree it's all a matter of how you were raised. I know when I drive up to a stop sign and somebody else gets there the same time I do if they wave me on to go ahead I always wave back as a thank you. I just feel rude if I don't. Many people could care less only looking out for themselves, but sometimes having manners snd being nice can get you in trouble. I went bowling the other day and has a small ball in my rack that was too small for me to use. So I'm there bowling with my friends when this family comes up looking for a ball for their little girl and boy. I over heard them saying they needed a smaller ball for the children and that there were none left. I turned around and offered the ball that I was not using. The little girl was the only one that said thank you with a smile while the parents were (not very quitely either) griping about how people need to keep to themselves and mind their own business. That was after getting dirty looks from them. But it made somebody happy and even though the parents were rude it made me happy to see that little girl smile.