Ever since moving out the Washington, D.C. metro area, I've grown more and more despondant about the future of the human race.

One of my favorite authors (Robert A. Heinlein) once wrote in one of his science fiction books that the quickest way to spot a "sick society" is the condition of the public restrooms. Prior to World War II, men and women strived to leave a public restroom in the clean condition they found it. Nowadays, people will urinate on the toliet seat, spit mucus on the floor, and who cares if the paper towel falls on the floor?

The other day I was out at the Smithsonian Air & Space museum at Dulles and was going into the IMAX theater. The previous show was just getting over with and no sooner than I opened the door, the crowd began to shuffle out. I stood out of the way as a lady was exiting first so I held the door open. She politely smiled and said, "Thank you", and continued on.

The next 200 or so people, mostly kids on a school field trip, came right out the door and didn't even bother to move to hold the door open for themselves. Not one said thank you nor even acknowledged my presence. I certainly didn't work there as I was in shorts with a camera strapped around my neck. For my own karma, I continued to hold the door rather than letting it close on them. Finally, an elderly gentleman was the last one out and he turned to me, smiled, and said thank you.

Two people out of about 200 said thank you. That's 1% of the group.

Today, I was riding the metro back to Fairfax from downtown. It was getting busy as it was around 4 p.m. and there were no empty benches left. An elderly woman got on and I politely offered her my seat. She immediately exploded on how inconsiderate I was for offering her a bench that she "obviously can't get in and out of".

It's not gay marriages that is destroying our society today.

It's not illegal immigration that is destroying our society today.

It's not patriotism/lack of patriotism that is destroying our socity today.

It's not abortion rights that is destroying our society today.

No, it's a simple little thing known as polite manners. Saying small things such as "please" and "thank you". Acknowleding you fellow man, holding the door open for a lady, and removing your hat when indoors. Giving proper deferance and respect to your elders.

It is the lack of polite manners that is tearing our society apart.

i heartily agree my friend!! couldn't have said it better!
its just the same over here!!!

Preaching to the choir in this corner Rob, but you probably already knew that.
What worries me even more is something I saw in the Dallas paper yesterday. Some **cktard has decided it would be a good idea to make spanking your child (even once) a criminal offence.
Don't get me wrong, I do NOT think spanking and beating your child are the same thing, there is an obvious difference. What I can tell you though is that a firm spanking actually kept me OUT OF more trouble than it could ever have caused.
IMO, the problem is more that we (as a society) have allowed our children (even steered them in many cases) to become disrespectful and soft because they didn't have the proper discipline during their formative years.
I can still remember being snatched up and whooped by someone else's parents when I deserved it and consequently embarrased in front of my 'friends'. Guess what? I never used that type of behaviour again though.... and I didn't turn out to be a violent person, or a cannibal, or a criminal, or an animal abuser.

We are not ALLOWING our kids to become this way, we are FORCING them to with more and more assinine laws.

I still get slapped by my mom if I'm rude or inconsiderate. And I'm a freshman... in college.

What you experienced was unforunate Rob. It's a shame what our society has turned into.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Ever since moving out the Washington, D.C. metro area, I've grown more and more despondant about the future of the human race."

I've been in D.C. a number of times, and it does not strike me as any more well mannered than any other big city. I have found the folks employed by the government at gift shops and concessions stands to be, how shall I say, less than enthusiatic about their work.

You need to move out into the heartland. Small town America still knows the difference between wrong and right and what common courtesy is.

The two out of 200 who thanked you were adults. The kids probably either expected someone to hold the door for them, or they just didn't care. I know that when I was a kid, I would thank someone who showed me some courtesy, but I really didn't care if they actually did so. And that's a loooong time ago.

I am with you 100% on giving up your seat to any woman or anyone who needs it more than you do.

Couldn't agree with you more Rob. Also reminds me of an incident the other day. As I was walking out of my apartment building, I see an elderly woman with crutches, so I wait and hold the door open for her with a polite smile. This old lady, instead of saying thank you, gives me this bitter look. That freaking pissed me off.

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n Couldn't agree with you more Rob. Also reminds me of an incident the other day. As I was walking out of my apartment building, I see an elderly woman with crutches, so I wait and hold the door open for her with a polite smile. This old lady, instead of saying thank you, gives me this bitter look. That freaking pissed me off.

Some of us shall not grow old gracefully - any reminder shall be loathed. Sad but true.

Rob, It is a sad state of affairs these days, my generation (Class of 1984) was considered at the time to be worse than the last generations of kids, but most of us were still pretty polite towards adults.

I got called "Whale Penis" the other day by one of my friends kids...he was laughing and joking about it, but I was not amused.

It didn't help that my buddy laughed about it too, as he was telling him that he shouldn't do that.


I am sure I'd have ended up flying across the room (Deservedly so) if I would have ever said that to an adult at that age..joking or not.

If you can't respect adults as a child, when will you ever learn to respect people in life? (Not likely ever IMO)

Children will carry things like that into adulthood, so parenting them properly is of utmost importance, you know what they say..."Garbage in, Garbage out" certainly applies when it comes to teaching respect.


Yeah..there are still many polite people around the country , and the world for that matter, but each generaton is etting worse and not better overall...it used to be 90% (Guessing) of us were respectfull, now it's probably down to 60%, so what will it be like in another 20 years when thes kids are adults?

One just has too look at the jails that are busting at the seams to see where we are heading.

The big question is..can we do anything to stop it? what would it take?

Well..I have many ideas I would like to try , but I am a nobody...I often dream of having the ability to make peope stop and listen, be kind, change there attitudes towards life so that we can grow as a society.

I think the generation that came after WW-2 (Baby boomers) was the closest we ever will ever have to being "Ideal" in the way they acted in life..they were hard working, didn't expect things handed to them, and tried to make the world a better place.

I know we can't have Utopia on earth, but if we don't try and strive to get closer to it, and just say "Screw You" to everyone, then our future does not look bright, not only as a country, but as a planet.

I say we need some very strong leadership to make it happen, but you won't find it in our governemnt, and even our churches, they alwasy have an agenda.

We need a hero that people of the world can look up too, another Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, etc...And I don't see anyone stepping up to the plate.

I have done what I can with my friends and family to help them out in life, and thats all anyone can do on a indiividual basis...all we can hope for at this point is for a grassroots movement that heads in that direction.

This is a good start Rob, maybe we can all join together and get something going here!

I must admit, the last week has been spent re-re-re educating our 7yo daughter manners
Greeting an adult
Please
Thank you
Not butting into conversations... all that kind of stuff

I think that the fall-off in manners is due in part to the apathy from a couple of generations of parents (yep, i'm one of them too) being a little too relaxed on discipline and letting the TV and playstation do the job of babysitting.

How can little johnny learn that calling $SOLID$ a whalecawk is bad unless he's taught manners and disciplined when he's out of line?

Surely there are more influences than that, but in my circumstance this one has hit home.

its hard being a parent i know masterp!!!!
we've just had to stop going to a couples place that we're friends with because our 3 year old son started saying things like p**s off and so on.
we found out that they sware at there kids, even their 4 month old if they lets say.... want to play with their books because their mummy and daddy are too tyred!
no wonder the next generstions are coming up with no respect! its because they get no respect, along with us living in a nanny culture!!!!
they know they can get away with blue murder and so they do!!!!
p.s. i know that there are good kids out there!!! its the others that mess it up for them!!!!
bring back the national service ( bad lads army tv show.. ) is what my grandad used to say, well i agree!!!

It's comforting knowing that everyday I further contribute to the downfall of our society by installing and maintaining cable television.

That's why I'm glad I live in a small southern town. Everyone says hello and we still wave
at people in cars as we pass-by. I even wave at the cops, though I do know them all. Going
to Wal-Mart is like mingling at a party. I bet I stop and chat with at least 5 people every
visit on average. I can go into any restaurant and get my lunch or dinner without even
ordering. I'll never again live in a cesspool, er, big/medium/small city :-)

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro We need a hero that people of the world can look up too, another Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, etc...And I don't see anyone stepping up to the plate.

I accept. Emperor Slay :-)

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate That's why I'm glad I live in a small southern town. Everyone says hello and we still wave at people in cars as we pass-by. I even wave at the cops, though I do know them all. Going to Wal-Mart is like mingling at a party. I bet I stop and chat with at least 5 people every visit on average. I can go into any restaurant and get my lunch or dinner without even ordering. I'll never again live in a cesspool, er, big/medium/small city :-) I accept. Emperor Slay :-)

Yup. South FTW. Even though our towns big enough that we don't all know each other we'll still treat each other perfect politeness.

Anyone except DarkSamurai or John been to North Dakota? It's a last bastion for civility. There ain't no work, but the people have manners.

North Dakota?

Oh hell, yeah.

I even know Minot's tourism slogan...."Why not, Minot?"

Funny thing is...I grew up in the midwest in a small town of about 450 people and graduated with a class of 13 kids. As much as I wanted to run away from that place, I find myself yearning to return.

Maybe retirement....

North Dakota, ya. I think the whole slogan is "Why not, Minot? Freeezin's the reason."
I was stationed at Ellsworth AFB (Rapid City, South Dakota) for 3 years back in the
80's. It sucked :-) But I have been to ND. I had a friend who was from Eagle Butte.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate North Dakota, ya. I think the whole slogan is "Why not, Minot? Freeezin's the reason."

Last time I heard the Minot slogan it was reduced to - Why not Minot? Because it sucks.

Quote: Originally Posted by BigAkita Anyone except DarkSamurai or John been to North Dakota? It's a last bastion for civility. There ain't no work, but the people have manners.

Same applies to Iowa if you stay away from Des Moines and parts of Iowa City/Cedar Rapids.

and this is why postal 2 is one of my favorite games

Parenthood and voting should be a privilege, not a right. Your founding fathers actually believed the latter. The unaware masses will give up their rights for a dollar.