Grumpy Old Men & Women – A Common Courtesy Conundrum: Please & Thank You
Posted: Friday, September 03, 2010
by Julian Price
http://www.uk-freelance-content-writer.co.uk/
“Please” and “Thank you”, just a few little words that the world seems to be forgetting or perhaps worse still, abandoning.
In 2008, I wrote an article on this self same subject and two years later I am back to have another grumble at the state of common courtesy.
In my previous “please and thank you” article, I stumbled to a vague conclusion that the “common courtesy light” menu was mainly lapped up and devoured by the younger generation. This may have been somewhat harsh.
So, my theory that this disease that seems to make people impolite and impatient had to have started somewhere around my own generation (to be passed on to the young) appears to have been severely misguided.
Grumpy old men and women are everywhere. Ironically it turns out that one of the things they are most grumpy about is young people! “In my day, if we behaved like that in public, we would get a good hiding from our parents” and “oh, these young people are so rude and inconsiderate” are just a couple of the phrases I heard as “old” people were pushing into a bus queue (line) and fending people off with their umbrellas to ensure they got a seat on the bus.
One might suggest that if younger folks were more willing to give up their seats for the elderly, then the elderly might be less aggressive but perhaps it’s just a vicious circle.
Perhaps governments should introduce compulsory common courtesy training programs for people of all ages. Reintroducing please and thank you as essential ingredients for a civilised society surely can’t be a bad thing?
I still passionately believe that before the world we live in got into the state that it’s in, that it took a basic breakdown of common courtesy and consideration for our fellow human to set the whole thing in motion. After all, if we can’t muster up a simple please and thank you for our nearest and dearest at the appropriate moments, what hope do we all have?
So, was there ever a generation when things were better? Are things really getting worse or have they been this way for some considerable time? Are younger people really less polite than those that have more years under their belts?
This really is a common courtesy conundrum.
Thank you for reading.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)I have to agree that lack of courtesy isn't limited to any particular age. I taught my kids that these were "magic words" and always asked them what the magic word was when they forgot. Maybe a good place to start would be in the schools...requiring kids to use the magic words EVERY time they are appropriate.Thanks for reading Joyce and for your comment, very much appreciated. Julian
I've noticed that all generations have the problem with common courtesy, but the youngest generation is appalling. Even my own children have said something to their peers about the problem. I think we all look back and think our generation was never that bad, but we probably had our own issues. I just hope we never forget to be courteous.GraceThanks for taking the time to read and comment Grace, it's appreciated! Julian
It was a pleasure to read this, Julian, and thanks for writing it! I think courtesy is really important - respecting the other person and taking responsibility for my own emotions. Really don't like people who make me their dumping ground!Thanks Jennifer! Appreciate you stopping by as always!
Nice article...keep it up....Thanks for sharing it...RegardsCPHi Chiradeep, thanks for reading and leaving a comment! Julian
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