Time to Sign Up for 'Manners 101'

There also was a time when people would let you know when you were rude, impolite or brash. But today, people are afraid to voice disapproval for fear of a violent reaction from our violent society.

I work at a university as well, and am increasingly concerned. The rudeness factor aside, what worries me is this generation of people that can't seem to spend 5 minutes actually alone and handling things by themselves. They must be continually "connected" to someone or some electronic device and seem to live in a bubble, unaware of what is going on around them. Turn them all off once in a while and talk to people in line or in the elevator! And try to deal with things yourself before automatically calling someone for help!

I, at age 76+, am attending classes at our local community college because I have a goal to earn my BA before I die, not for any other reason than to prove to myself thatI can. Within my classes I'm always treated with respect by my much younger classmates. My one BIG beef are those who cluster around the entrances of class buildings, puffing away on cigarettes, blatantly ignoring signs posted banning smoking within 25 feet of entrances. I use oxygen, but even while inhaling it, it's being contaminated by the clouds of cigarette smoke I must maneuver through to get to class. Smaller beefs include that so many younger students have to always be plugged into something -- a cell phone, an I-Pod, etc. People are forgetting how to communicate face-to-face because they've become so plugged in to devices.

Some well placed head smacks for the person that walked backwards into you and stepped on your toes would allow that person to realize the error of his action.

When I see a situation where people are going to walk into to me I stop and stand perfectly still so that they can make that decision. If we collide I apologize for occupying my space.

I talk to the person that is in front for me and is continuing to chat on their phone. That helps them to realize that they need to pay attention to the activity around them.

You miss the obvious:

1- cell phones by nature are rude. If you are in a room with other people, or a van coming from an airport, the polite thing to do is ask others if you can make a call before you start a loud conversation.

2- people talking on cell phones do not pay attention to what they are doing. they don't drive well. they don't order coffee well. and they certainly don't walk well. did you consider that maybe that person in front of you in "Observation #1" may have been trying to avoid an obstacle that you couldn't see because you were gabbing on your phone? did you consider that you actually may have ran into him and that he's probably thinking you're a rude person for crashing into him because you're not paying attention?

So, courtesy starts with thinking about those around you, as you suggest. But it also starts with forgiving the 'rudeness' of others as it is equally likely that you were (or are or have been) equally rude.

Rest assured it is not just your generation, true they lack more manners than most generations, but we all have are rude people. We were shopping the other day when a man and woman shopping together with two seperate carts (small child in one cart) they weren't traveling behind one another but side by side and they would just stop and block the isle, we were behind them at one point, the woman turned around and looked at me and they just stood there, my husband said "excuse me" they just stood there blocking the isle...irrated my husband gets louder, excuse me, no movement so he just procedes to push his way through them, saying I said excuse me, didn't you hear what I said, they finally seperated enough to get through, then the man says "well you didn't have to be a d**k about it" good thing my husband didn't hear. Some people are just rude and it doesn't matter their age.

It's nice to read this topic addressed by a college student about their generation. But in all fairness, it seems to me that society in general is becoming more rude, and maybe that is increasing with each generation and as technology has increased the pace that we live at.

One place in particular that I see so much rudeness and an "I can do or say whatever I want because it's a free country" attitude is in blogosphere! People in general behave so uncivil and rude on blogs, message boards, etc. And it's done with the defense of freedom of speech. Yes-we have freedom of speech and the right to disagree with one another, but should we take that right and use it in such a rude way? I do not think so! I hate to think of how rude and uncivil society may become over the coming years...