Manners: now on the Endangered Species List

I wonder sometimes, exactly when society decided they were more important than anything else in the world. Important enough to forget the basic laws of life. Manners, respect for your elders, traffic laws and common courtesy to name a few. I really yanks my chain when people run red lights, stop their cars in the crosswalk, run stop signs and cut turns so they drive in the wrong lane just to name a few.

People these days have also forgotten basic manners. It really is okay to hold a door open for a person who has their hands full, it really is okay to say Please and Thank You, it really is okay to tell someone to have a wonderful day.

It seems to me that this change of I'm-more-important-than-you-so-get-out-of-my-way mentality was an overnight thing. I know that isn't true but it still astounds me that no one really cares about the health and well being of anyone other than themselves. Now mind you, I am not referring to my friends and family, I am talking about people I observe not only at work, but during every normal thing I do...going to the grocery store, driving to the bank, etc.

When I go shopping, and walk into someone's line of sight of the shelves, I say 'excuse me' or 'pardon me'. Usually I get a smile or a 'that's okay'. Once in a while I get no response. Not often though. But there is a younger generation that when they walk in front of you, they don't say anything close to that. When I leave a store, loaded down with bags of groceries, people do not move aside for me...again, a younger generation. Even the courtesy clerks aren't very courteous anymore. 

As I write this, I hope that the next generation will try to right this wrong, and be more polite and aware of other people in the world. 

Then I see the bullying online and think...nope....ain't gonna happen.