Impolite young people

Although I was raised (through the 1960s) to always be polite to my elders, it was being said way back then that the younger generations were impolite, and my parents also said back then, "I don't know what the world is coming to with the younger generation". I will say though the kids today often cuss and swear at, and in front of, older people. I didn't hear it back then. We cussed alright amongst ourselves, but if adults were around, we would curb it, or we would get a slap! And it would be regarded as nobody else's fault but our own. My Dad said the same thing, that he was often a bit of a rascal as a kid, but still respected adults and often got chased if he was in places he wasn't supposed to be. The world rattles on as it always did, and as a Zen practitioner, I feel that life itself tends to correct things, as does nature always bring about a balance naturally. Each person tend to think with ego-mind and feel that they are "important", but when you consider the infinite size of the universe, a person is such a small speck as to be hardly noticed.. But spiritually, things are probably a lot different to that in that place where time and space are regarded as illusions. But I guess that is the subject of another discussion. _Derek

I will say I have to agree. In today's society young people have lost all respect for the rules of common courtesy.

I have it's people in general, though the younger generations tend to be the rudest. I'm 40, and my parents raised me to respect my elders; as a result, I have a difficult time addressing my friend's parents by their first names. I have a saying that has never been more true: I've found that the closer I get to BEING an elder, the less I respect them. This was after I was working as a merchandiser in a supermarket and was cursed out by an elderly woman because I was in her way! I didn't think she even knew the words that came out of her mouth-and when my own mouth dropped open in shock, she told me to close my mouth because I looked "stupid". That's when I stopped respecting many of them-they're just plain rude! But whenever I see someone with a Retired Veteran hat (or from their particular branch of the service), I DO make it a point to tell them Thank You For Your Service. One man was nearly in tears-he was a Korea vet and no one ever thanked him before.

I think that the behaviour of the younger generations have changed a lot. But I feel this has to do a lot of how you are being raised. Still, people tend to think that independence and impoliteness mean the same. And children have lots of rights, but not to many duties in any sense.

Good day KOSTAS499, What you have been posted is true. As I also experienced that from the young generations of today. What I encountered was, they do not know how to say "please" and "excuse me". Hence during those years when I was on their age, our elders always reminds us not to forget these words especially if we are asking for a favor and if we are walking in between of a two person who is making a conversation.

you are right. though not all but i noticed too that more of the present younger generations fails to or don't observe politeness now. i had one personal experience when i took the light railway transport and there was plenty of commuters. Would you believe that one male student (in his school uniform) pushed me just to be able to get a vacant set. I am a woman in my early senior years and I was really caught off guard by his actions. when i looked a him setting comfortably he seemed very casual as if nothing happened.

I'm pretty sure the younger generations are rude and often crude as well. I think it shows a lack of upbringing and a lack of discipline on the parents' part. I brought my kids up to be polite to everyone and especially their elders. They are the exception any more, sadly. If I had been impolite to anyone, I don't even want to think of what might have happened. We learned to respect people as well as to respect ourselves.

they get online and are treated as equals there and so expect to act that way in the rest of the world.

Not only impolite, but just down right rude and ugly at times. No, it's not just you. People in general are more impolite now than they were a few years ago. It's not surprising, though. It has been prophesied that the attitudes of people would be just like what we're seeing. Thankfully not everyone is like that but attitudes are changing and not for the better. A couple of years ago, I was driving down the street of my old neighborhood and a little girl, on her bicycle thought it would be funny to stick out her tongue and wag her head at me. I believe I honked my horn at her to shut her up. My immediate thought was - what if she decides to do that very thing to the wrong person? A person who abduct and kill her. I guess people don't have enough of a brain to think about what they're doing and the consequences that may result.

Hello my friend KOSTAS499 Ji, Well, it is an order of the day and requirement of times. If one has to get something, one has to loose otherside. Truely speaking I am with ist response and tell you after our marriage we discussed first thing and promised each other not to use any slange language even ourselves during loneliness forget about in front of children, today our youngest sibling daughter is older by one year than you, and they never use such language and remain curteous. May God bless You and have a great time

It is not just younger people that are more impolite these days. At least young people have the excuse of being young and not knowing better. Most can learn from their mistakes and grow out of rebellion, but it seems older people don't care about their rudeness.

The youth of today are impolite and rude. Just last year before I retire, I wished the security guard good morning twice. First time, he did not wish me back. Then I wished him again, this time louder, but still no answer from him. I handed him my identity card for registration to enter the factory. Isn't he impolite by not returning my morning wishes to him? On another incident I wished the receptionist on the phone good morning twice but no response from her. Instead she asked to whom I want to speak? Isn't she rude?

Yes and No to the younger generation be more and more impolite. Some younger people are just rude period no matter what there parents say or tell them to do. I was always nice just because when I was nice that person tended to be nice back although some times that did happen. I'm 23 and I've had people older and younger then me be rude to me for no reason out of the blue people I know and don't know. I can go into a store and have a young person be complete really nice doing there job and other times I can walk into a store and have someone older then me and treat me like I'm trash. They can be just a few years older them to about 10 or 20 some times even more then older then me.

True, I agree. I am a teacher and it's a very hard work teaching them how to behave. I'm 28 and I was never impolite to the elders either. My parents would kill me if I were rude! I don't have to tell about the children. My tutors are about 20 or 21 now, and they really don't know how to respect the older tutors. They all refuse to do the hard work. All they want is less work more payment.

There has been a shift in how kids are raised, as well as a general lack of expectations, that's all I can come up with. HOWEVER - that said, I do not believe that everybody is worthy of demanding or forcing others to be NICE to them or defer to them or agree with them. I am from your generation and I remember being 'forced' to defer to older people and trust their judgement. I only do so NOW if the person is worthy of being trusted, as some people know nothing and think they can dupe you simply because they are older. Sorry but that doesn't fly with me. I'm not saying there AREN'T wise older people, there are, but clearly that is not a good yardstick with which to measure what you believe or who you trust or listen to. I have kids and what I have always told them is to be civil. This doesn't mean TRUST or LISTEN to everybody, it just means have a basic level of politeness, if someone speaks to you, answer, make eye contact, be decent, but if someone is rude to you, you have every right to avoid or ignore them because their behavior is unacceptable. It doesn't mean get up in their face, try to avoid trouble, but don't be a doormat. I tell my youngest to be kind and be a good friend - but if someone is being obnoxious or controlling, she does NOT have to listen to them, especially other KIDS who may be trying to pull rank simply because they are a little older or perhaps bigger or taller than she is. She knows what's okay with us and I've already told her that if she knows something is not okay with us, she does NOT have to listen to someone else or go along with them, and if they have a problem, they can come discuss it with ME. They are NOT to harass or get on her, they can come to the source. This is one way to also see if someone is just being a bully. Also, these days - there's more corruption within government, including sectors that are meant to protect us like police, fire, medical, etc. There is fraud in customer service as well as people who are looking for victims to target. We need to be wise to the fact that this corruption DOES exist, which is why 'blanket respect and trust' is such a terrible idea. You have to learn how to read people and then trust your gut. There really are awful folks who hate children, who want to scam you out of things, who get off on hurting others. These are the types of people who scream the loudest about lack of respect... some of them at least lol. It must be given in order to receive - treat others the way you would like to be treated FIRST. If you do that, then your interactions with others will remain pleasant, for the most part.

Yes, you got that right on! They just don't give much care about politeness anymore whenever they see an older person or try to ask a question from you. The acquired values in life among the younger generation had changed, the adult family they used to grow up with probably never teach them to do that anymore in modern age family. It may be the result of a failed education system both in school and family, the youngs are not taught to be polite anymore and is deem an unnecessary manner in modern society. Sigh!

You are becoming like America. See, when I think of impolite, I think of someone cussing at me, or yelling. That's impolite in America. I would be ecstatic if all people did was not say good morning.

I am part of the younger generation, and I have to agree with you. I believe that in general, teenagers and children will be inevitably socially awkward and inept. However, I watched as my own generation passed this stage and still the majority don't have the polite social skills that they need. My experience is this: I was a very shy child who grew into an outgoing adult who treats others the way I'd like to be treated. I grew up with friends that were nice, great kids who rarely got into trouble, but as adults, they barely say hello to a store cashier when going through a checkout. I find myself butting into their checkout simply to say hello to the person behind the register. I'm trying to set an example for both my peers and those who are older than us and still haven't learned how to treat other human beings. At the end of the day, it's futile. No one learns any better, and I'm stuck picking up the slack of other people. I'm not completely sure why the younger generations seem to get older while still not maturing in such ways. I suspect part of it has to do with the technology that is so "convenient" and yet keeps people so far away from their own humanity. My generation was the first to grow up with computers, and cell phones came out by the time I hit middle school. People my age seem less and less willing to interact with human beings unless it is convenient and through a screen, so it is of little wonder they do not deem others worthy of common courtesy.

Being impolite is something related a bit to guidance from parents and their strictness for their children. What I have primarily observed is that children who are more pampered tend to be more impolite when they grow into teenage. I do not see it a tendency of young people rather I would say that it is developed within them who aren't controlled by their parents when it was needed.

Yes its just sad the generation that is coming up as it looks like the values are being left behind. I witnessed two teenage girls insulting an older gentleman on the train because he had apparently pushed them as he went to pass by and it was just plain bad.It was so shocking that even the other passengers just kept quite and watched them as they continued discussing the man among themselves and they were not even a little bit remorseful.Young people nowadays have come up with names for the aged that are just disrespectful. Who is to blame? The parents,the system in general as values are supposed to be passed down generations by those who are the guardians in every level which includes teachers as well.