Manners Make the Man (or Woman)

What’s going on with people in our world today?

Why are people rude to others?

What is it that compels people to behave like idiots, and trash talk to others?

I was offended today, and it made me angry. Not because of the rudeness but it was the fact that they had no regard for my feelings whatsoever, and they still chose to act that way. They wanted to offend me.

I cannot stand people who think it’s okay to trash talk to others without knowing anything about them.

What do people gain from this behavior?

There is no doubt that our world is changing. I’m all for the internet and technology to drive business and industry as well as promoting learning for kids and adults. Information has become easy to access at the click of a button, or a few typing prompts on our devices. But in the middle of all this wonderful technology, aren’t we forgetting something important along the way?

What about the human side of things? I love that people have their differences and unique perspectives. I think it’s fascinating to learn about people’s backgrounds and cultures.

How do we communicate and behave around others?

Do we ever think about others’ feelings?

How much are we willing to ignore before we react?

We don’t have to think back many years to see how much behavior has changed in our world. Society was different before the internet became widespread. People were more aware of others, and there was a simple code that most people followed. That code was called manners.

Where did our manners go?

You don’t have to go far to see how people treat each other in the street, in stores and public places.

I see how older people and pensioners are ignored, and even insulted by hand gestures about how they dress and the speed they walk. I think it's sad and heartbreaking to put people down because of old age. Those people were once working and feeding their families. They just got old, but old doesn't mean stupid. If anything, they have more years in their bones to see how the world is changing. Most seniors stay silent. They appear too afraid to open their mouths and speak their minds.

I see people in car jams shout and swear openly at each other while “little ears” listen and take note in the back seat. Is this really the behavior we want to model to our future generation? What kind of world are we leaving them in?

It’s no wonder that kids are answering back in schools and refuse to work in lessons. That bad behavior is the new normal. Where did all this come from?

I was always told in school to “respect my elders” and to “treat people the way I wanted to be treated.” As a kid, I had to hold the door open if an adult was coming and say thank you after every sentence. Manners were drummed into me like a nail, and if I said “no” or disrespected an adult — there were consequences.

Today, there are no consequences for bad behavior and very few people have good manners. People don’t listen to anything unless it beeps or glows, and we don’t talk to each other like we used to. Not talking to one another only breeds miscommunication and misunderstandings. Soon, human interactions will be a dead skill.

What can we do to reverse this to a more harmonious and cohesive society? A society where we build together, rather than separately? When will our focus return to reality?

A final note:

The standard that you walk past is the standard that you accept.

My name is Lizzy. I’m a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.

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