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Dick Noble · 05-14-2012, 10:53 AM

There is only one person in this whole world that you can change - yourself. Practice good manners. Others may notice.

Francesca · 05-14-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzick

I, too, often find myself critical of young people's behavior. But then I remember my great grandfather used to complain about the same thing. Grandpa (WW I) and Dad (WW II) used to return from their visits to VA (they rode together) complaining about poor manners of younger vets. My son, the Colonel, talks about how difficult young soldiers can be. I just scanned a Ladies Home Journal from 1906 with an article about how ill mannered youth were. There seems to be a pattern here. Do we all get negative and grouchy as we age and lash out at younger folks? I am as guilty as the next, but I think I too will start trying to see the good.

There is... And it probably started with Adam and Eve!

AUTHOR: Socrates (469–399 B.C.)
QUOTATION: "The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers."

Ramblin · 05-14-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okmunky

Or is it that too many parents think it's more important to live in the nicest house and drive the most expensive car than raise their kids? Too many kids are raising themselves and doing a lousy job. The values and morals are not getting passed down.

All babies are born thinking the world revolves around them. Thru maturity and the lessons that adults are supposed to teach, they grow up and learn to consider how their actions affect others. If mom and dad both work and spend hours each day commuting, those important lessons don't get taught and kids grow up thinking the world revolves around them.

There is a lot of truth to this. Add to it the learning envrionment they are in these days. I grew up thinking my DAD knew everything there was to know, and HE was my search engine. If he didn't know, he knew somebody that did, and we both learned something. The answer to every question kids have is now a google search away. No interaction required.

EngineerMike · 05-14-2012, 12:01 PM

IIRC Socrates lived during the first fall of Grecian society. Amazing that the pinnacle of civilization could fall as far & fast and as permanently as did ancient Greece. But then, now that I think about it, Greece repeated the history of the ancient Egyptians before. Egypt had achieved the previous pinnacle of civilized development and learning, which was lost in the sands of the desert.

But then, now that I think about it, history repeated again w/the ancient Romans. And now that I think about it some more, history repeated yet again w/the French. And now that I think about it some more, history repeated still again w/the empire on which the sun never set, Great Britain.

So here we are, the latest and greatest incarnation of the pinnacle of civilization, devolving into a discourteous, self-involved, gimme-my-free-stuff downward spiral. I can't say I agree w/the above post that says this decay is ordained by nature. W/human civilization, I think its a choice whether to persevere, or eat the seed corn.

I do agree w/the post that said: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Good words truly.

Luckiest Dreamer · 05-14-2012, 08:59 PM

My neighbors have 5 kids ages 5 to 15. They are quite well behaved and curtious. I am proud to be their neighbor. My Grandkids will always call on my birthday as they do for their grandmother. Mothersday , easter, and any special day that they cannot be with us. My son does the same. His sister will email us on a daily basis. He lives across the country and tends to phone us most weeks. I believe there are children that do not do this but I am incouraged the children today can and still are respectful!

Wayne MD · 05-15-2012, 11:14 PM

There is still hope out there, I think.

speed racer · 05-16-2012, 07:33 AM

Don't throw a blanket over every one. There are still alot of good people young and old in this world we live in and I see them every day.

bjcarpetguy · 05-17-2012, 10:01 PM

I too was raised to hold the door, too ask if I can help. I have young people in the family who also do the same. I also have young people as well as older 30's & 40's that wouldn't give you the time of day. Its all about up bringing. Too many of them were left with an electronic Babysitter. "boob Tube".

Lindsay Richards · 05-21-2012, 07:47 PM

After growing up being taught to help older people, I had the misfortune to have a flat in my wife's car when we were going to a party. I had on a suit (rare for me) and set about learning how to use the jack and putting on the donut tire. I am 67. A 30 something guy came stopped and helped me. I was very glad for his help and we quickly got the tire changed, but I can tell you it sure made me feel like an old foggie. I think it made him feel good as it always did me when I was on the other side, but it was a realization for me.

Sohapi · 05-21-2012, 07:57 PM

We try to help all the time and find that if we do things for others without being asked it spreads very quickly around here. We have always used good manners and so have our kids and now our grandkids do and I sometimes will hear our grandkids little friends using manners after being around all of us. Seems to spread...maybe we just all need to help spread it around too.