I have noticed that a large number of members of my generation (I was born in 1995)lack politeness or general manners. I know many reading this will be polite people such as my self, my question is more why do you think this is the case?
Poll: Are Manners Dead/Dying In Our current And/Or Last Generation?
- Thread starter ComandaKool
- Start date
We're more polite now then we've ever been, historically.
We're all just stuck up, self absorbed pricks. The two are not mutually exclusive.
We're all just stuck up, self absorbed pricks. The two are not mutually exclusive.
People aren't as repressed as the once were, more expressive.
What does it matter if someone thanks you (or whatever else) out of sheer compulsive 'manners' and doesn't mean it?
Certain people have always conducted themselves in tactless or abrasive ways, just now they have an unfettered conduit. I'm all for it, saves time, I prefer people to be transparent with their personalities.
There's conducting yourself in what you consider to be an appropriate way, and then there's memorising Debrett's etiquette because tradition.
What does it matter if someone thanks you (or whatever else) out of sheer compulsive 'manners' and doesn't mean it?
Certain people have always conducted themselves in tactless or abrasive ways, just now they have an unfettered conduit. I'm all for it, saves time, I prefer people to be transparent with their personalities.
There's conducting yourself in what you consider to be an appropriate way, and then there's memorising Debrett's etiquette because tradition.
Every generation has been condemned as the worst ever, and a totally betrayal of the values that blah blah blah.
The same people criticised for not respecting their elders get old and turn round and criticise young people.
The same people criticised for not respecting their elders get old and turn round and criticise young people.
A lot of the things that are considered "good manners and etiquette" are pretty random and often based on personal taste of one particular group.
Let's take "dirty words" for example:
If "fucking" is a dirty word then the expressions "having sex" and "making love" should be considered dirty as well because they mean the same thing.
A lot of people are very inconsistent. They'll force "good table manners" on people and then start a conversation about how they hate this or that group of people. They'll be overly nice to you but if you're gay, Jewish or whatever group they have a problem with, they'll do a complete 180 turn and start hating on you, even if you've done nothing to offend them in any way up to that point.
This is more common among the older generations.
Let's take "dirty words" for example:
If "fucking" is a dirty word then the expressions "having sex" and "making love" should be considered dirty as well because they mean the same thing.
A lot of people are very inconsistent. They'll force "good table manners" on people and then start a conversation about how they hate this or that group of people. They'll be overly nice to you but if you're gay, Jewish or whatever group they have a problem with, they'll do a complete 180 turn and start hating on you, even if you've done nothing to offend them in any way up to that point.
This is more common among the older generations.
Well, in my location, I've seen some very rude young people, however I've seen some of the most polite people in the same generation, so I'd say it varies. Depends on the upbringing of said person, I think.
Well, when this generation, known as Generation Y or the millennials, is polite it only occures when they are not absorbed in their own world. The best acts of kindness/ mannerisms I've seen occur are when someone is not on their phone, laptop, or listening to music. It's rather sad that people can be so close but not notice one another at all, passing the time that used to be spent chatting checking into the latest online post. In fact information is so commonplace in this era that there really isn't that much general information to chat about, in order to build a small social bond with strangers. Someone might pulla door open for someone, or say thanks, but it is only Ina amassing moment as they are drawn back towards the reality they find themselves in. After that they jump back into. The interconnected mesh that is social networking to connect with their friends who can be hundreds of miles away.
That depends on what you count as manners.
In regards to things such as saying 'please', 'thank you' or holding doors for people and such, I'd say it is more or less the same
However, if you consider things such as spending all evening on your phone when out with friends or at the dinner table when having a meal out as bad manners, then I'd say yes, people have gotten a lot worse.
In regards to things such as saying 'please', 'thank you' or holding doors for people and such, I'd say it is more or less the same
However, if you consider things such as spending all evening on your phone when out with friends or at the dinner table when having a meal out as bad manners, then I'd say yes, people have gotten a lot worse.
That's about right.AccursedTheory said:
People have been steadily condemning the next generation since Ancient Greece.
While there are issues with my generation that aggravate me an awful lot, it's nothing other than a cycle, and every generation has its faults. We're certainly the least racist or sexist to come around in quite some time.
No, people have been assholes to each other since the dawn of man. Politeness is just the facade that gets put up so people can veil themselves and pretend they aren't being douche bags to each other when they really are. Each subsequent generation is just moving away from the facade and being more forward/open about being assholes to each other.
Manners and mannerisms change.ComandaKool said:
My mother does complain about how much her three children (27, 24 and 21 respectively) swear. Its not down to having no manners, it is down to societal change. Every single generation has thought that the next generation is changing into unruly shits for as long as time. Hell, some philosophers thought that writing was going to lead to bad habits due to people not having to listen to stuff as much any more!
They were wrong and people who, right now, think that manners are dead and dying right now are also wrong. Manners have always been changing and they always will. People like me, who hold open doors regardless if someone is approaching, who always try (It takes effort) to be kind, calm and polite to people are, in my experience, the majority.
Our generation is in no way worse nor in no way better then any prior generation.
So get the fuck out of my face and eat a million dicks!
I jest. I really do.
Well, the definition of manners changes with the times and can't really be judged by something as black an white as yes or no.
It's also a cultural thing, as here in Australia it's not really considered inpolite to have playful banter with someone you just met where as somewhere else in the world it might be a bit rude to act so familiar with a near stranger.
Overall though I'd say people have just dropped there facade a bit further, so people act as they will.
Which is why these days we have openly kind people instead of polite people acting as they were told, yet jerks will still be the same jerks.
So I voted for the most part no if you're still unclear on my position.
It's also a cultural thing, as here in Australia it's not really considered inpolite to have playful banter with someone you just met where as somewhere else in the world it might be a bit rude to act so familiar with a near stranger.
Overall though I'd say people have just dropped there facade a bit further, so people act as they will.
Which is why these days we have openly kind people instead of polite people acting as they were told, yet jerks will still be the same jerks.
So I voted for the most part no if you're still unclear on my position.
"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise."
That is a quote from the Greek philosopher Plato or Socrates, roughly 2400 years ago.
Every generation thinks that the youngsters are bad mannered and everything will be ruined. Its just humans being humans.
That is a quote from the Greek philosopher Plato or Socrates, roughly 2400 years ago.
Every generation thinks that the youngsters are bad mannered and everything will be ruined. Its just humans being humans.
Congratulations on not killing them with the power of pure fury. I wouldn't have been able to control myself.Katatori-kun said:
OT: No, kids are about as I remember them. It seems to be a stage that lots of people go through, though, where they think all is doomed. You'll hopefully get through it.
Pretty much what everyone thusfar has said; manners change.
To be honest, most people that I have observed being entitled assholes have been middle-age to old.
Just a while ago an older gentleman started yelling in crocery-store because he couldn't cut in the front of the line...
Also those people are also (in my experience) most likely to yell out racist slurs at strangers, which I consider rather rude.
Teenagers do it too, but only in groups.
To be honest, most people that I have observed being entitled assholes have been middle-age to old.
Just a while ago an older gentleman started yelling in crocery-store because he couldn't cut in the front of the line...
Also those people are also (in my experience) most likely to yell out racist slurs at strangers, which I consider rather rude.
Teenagers do it too, but only in groups.
You get cunts in every generation, and I guess younger people tend to be a bit less respectful, but I bet a shit ton of money that older generations were the same. People always love to complain that things were better 'back in my day' because people are nostalgic.