Forgotten Etiquette

THE RIDGE MEADOWS DISH

issue 5

Forgotten Etiquette

Emily Post is likely doing back flips in her grave with the failure of simply etiquette and manners of the modern age.

Sadly, gone are the days of men opening doors for women (some still do), ladies wearing silk gloves and hats, men removing hats upon entering a home or restaurant etc. Modern generations have forgotten the manners of their elders and moved into an age of disconnection, discontent and disgust. 

I rarely see the chivalry of old anymore. Women's liberation movement pretty much annihilated that in one swift bra busting blow. Even the art of setting a beautiful table has been lost. 

So who is at fault? Parents, grandparents, teachers, ourselves? Each person is responsible for his or her own conduct, so therefore, we are all at fault. We have all let etiquette and manners slide away in lieu of 'texting' at dinner, ball caps in restaurants and talking in movie theatres. 

Oddly enough, the latter was disappointingly discovered last night. Four elderly people who sat behind my colleague and I,  forgot the golden rule about talking during a film. They rudely ruined the movie for several people around them by their constant chatter. Where in time did they lose their manners? Are they a victim of modernization? Or were they simply just inconsiderate people? 

Too many questions without many concrete answers. What is apparent is that today's youth is NOT learning their 'Ps and Qs'. Schools find it difficult to instill manners because it 'infringes' on parental desires. Parents are reluctant to reprimand their kids because of the 'abuse' accusations that can arise. Spanking is taboo now. Heaven forbid, that you 'punish' YOUR own child for being bad. 

The 'Spare the rod and spoil the child' theory had some validity to it. No, I'm not saying it is okay to abuse your child. **Please dispel that thought right away**.  What I am saying is this: When a child misbehaves, it is a Parent's duty and right to discipline that child in a constructive and educational manner.  Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If you misbehave, you pay the price. 

I wish I could say that this is only a modern generational problem but I can't. We have all forgotten about doing random acts of kindness. Smiling and saying hello to passers by. Using please and thank you during conversations. These behaviours should be completed 'ingrained' and part of every one's psyche. 

Who knows, maybe the next generation will find a copy of "Emily Post" and spread the word. (likely via texting)