(Photo by Maria Lysenko on Unsplash)
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed rudeness is on the rise?
Whatever happened to being polite?
Well-mannered people still exist, but it seems like they are becoming outnumbered by ill-mannered individuals who are rude, disrespectful, inconsiderate, mean, and aggressive.
Times have changed; technology, along with social media, has definitely altered the way we communicate and interact with others. Good manners essentially involve being aware of others and your surroundings. Have you noticed how many people are walking around like zombies, glued to their cell phones, oblivious to their environment? It makes you wonder how people who spend most of their time online can develop social skills if they do not understand the concept of taking responsibility for their words, actions, and their role as social beings.
Manners are important life skills that form the foundation for building healthy relationships and for living in a civil and harmonious society. We see the erosion in social etiquette today through road rage, angry customers, arrogant customer service, fights breaking out among airline passengers, sporting events or concerts, bullying, abuse, and people using their cell phones at the table, and talking during a movie, just to name a few.
Some contributing factors to rudeness include not knowing how to cope with high levels of stress, compensating for low self-esteem, struggling to manage their emotions or those of others, crying for attention or unmet needs, repeating learned behaviours from their family or social environment, and being influenced by the dark side of social media, which promotes materialistic values, consumerism, and superficial, shallow relationships.
Being rude is more of a reflection of people’s own internal struggles, so don’t take it personally. You can’t fight fire with fire, nor can you control their behaviours, but you are in control of how you respond. The next time someone is rude to you, respond with kindness, as it can spread, making them aware and empowering them to make healthier choices.
Manners involve the ability to treat others with respect by being considerate, polite, generous, and kind. This makes people feel valued, and you will feel good too.
Remember the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.
Antoinette Giacobbe, M.A.
