Were have people's manners gone?

[BobMathews]

Hello everyone,

Today I was with my girlfriend standing in line waiting to see the movie "Lord of the Rings." While waiting in line there were about 4 or 5 black guys standing next to us. They were talking to each other and on cell phones speaking in a language i could not understand " booo nop dee bro yo yo broda da" but every once and a while I could make out a few words which they seemed to speak in clear English "beeattch" "mothafugga" and "sheeaat." Since we were waiting in line to see LotR there were elderly people and children present because as many of you know, this is a family movie. I can only speak for myself but I was taught never to use foul language in front of women and children. Upset, I walk up to them and say "didn't your mother ever teach you any manners?" Their response like before was mostly incomprehensible minus a few words such as "dum whitey mothafugga cracka beeattch." I simply responded, "I guess that answers my question" and walked off. What is your people's take on the situation and how would you handle it?

Thanks for your time,


Robert

 

[smallmovesal]

never use fowl language.

i prefer the language of emus.

 

[strongchick]

I lost my mind in a public train station once in a similar situation. I spoke to them, just like you did, with no result. So my mind blanked and I walked right up in his face and expressed my feelings.

The cops were nearby....watching the whole thing.

 

[BobMathews]

Ha, ha, ha, excuse my embarrassing error. Either I was getting a little too upset re-playing the event in my mind or it was the Christmas turkey talking!

 

[HappyScrappy]

I lost my mind in a public train station once in a similar situation. I spoke to them, just like you did, with no result. So my mind blanked and I walked right up in his face and expressed my feelings.

The cops were nearby....watching the whole thing.

and in a theater once

 

[Warik]

I don't recall ever using foul language in the presence of a female except in times of EXTREME anger - which are rare and the language brought forth in them is minor.

It's just something I was raised not to do.

Online or with my male friends you'll hear the "fucks" and "shits" and whatnot, but you'll be lucky to hear a "crap" around a girl.

-Warik

 

[spentagn]

The girls I hang with talk dirtier than me. That's how I like 'em.

 

[smallmovesal]

when i've been drinking i curse like a sailor sometimes.

nah bob i was just teasing because it was a cute mistake.

 

[Sushi X]

SC, did you get the messages i sent, via email and i sent one pm too. just wondering cause i did'nt want you to get freaked or anything.

 

[Frackal]

I for one am fucking sick of those cumswallowing cockmongers who don't know how to construct a single fucking sentence without a curse-word.

 

[Bigsatan13]

The Order mean anything to you Bob?

 

[mrbill]

you see this type of behavior frequently in public places these days. i think it is just another indicator of the overall decline in civility and commom courtesy in our society.

 

[The Ranger]

Bob,

I'm in the same boat, and I do it all the time...I'll say something to them in a heartbeat....I generally hear whispers of aggreement throughout the crowd around me....

God help them if they wanna get tough...<wink>

Ranger

 

[FyreWomanGoddess]

Manners don't exsist anymore in this day and age. Take a good look around you. No one has any manners at all. Manners begin and start at home when your child is little.

 

[musclebrains]

The girls I hang with talk dirtier than me. That's how I like 'em.

What does dirty talk compare to exhibiting you penis to the neighbors? FINAL proof that morality is relative.

 

[Raina]

My dad got his oil changed over the weekend. The guys working there had music blaring that was mostly cussing and my dad asked if they could turn it down. I personally don't see that as being a bad thing to do as some "slap my bitch up" music isn't exactly professional. Anyhow, my dad was polite about it until some guy there got in his face and called him racist. A headlight ended up getting broken on the car and he he's still incredibly pissed about the whole deal, especially since my dad is one of the more tolerant people I know. I somehow see a nasty letter going that company's way....

On top of the language talk, do other people keep going to movies and having inconsiderate assholes get phone calls during movies?? I either leave my phone at home or I shut it off. It's all I can do not to tackle people who take calls at movie theaters.

Kate

 

[spentagn]

What does dirty talk compare to exhibiting you penis to the neighbors? FINAL proof that morality is relative.

If you'd like, we could keep this to one thread at a time, even.

 

[musclebrains]

If you'd like, we could keep this to one thread at a time, even.

No, no. I'm recanting (New Age) postmodernism for metanarratives.

 

[The Ranger]

Fyre,

I disagree with you...I think it depends on the part of the country you live in. I live in a very small town, and manners are very much alive here. Even with the teenagers....

When I venture to larger cities is when I see them all BUT disappear....

Ranger

 

[FyreWomanGoddess]

Yeah that is true it! I agree with you on that one. It all depends on where you live. Here in Sioux Falls no one has any manners in this town. I feel like the only person with manners in this town somedays. I grew up learning how to say please, thank you and excuse me. I also say hello and wave to people.

 

[musclebrains]

Whaddya think? Are those shows like Jerry Springer indicative of the loss of manners or does media culture contribute to the loss of manners? Ditto for the internet. Most of us speak in a way here that we wouldn't in real life. And my work as a writer produces letters now that are amazingly personal and vindictive but get published anyway. (I even sued a magazine over it two years ago.)

What I'm saying is that, in part, manners long helped people get along when they might not otherwise. The overdeveloped manners of black people in the South in their interactions with white people is an example (that ultimately came to be parodied in the figure of Uncle Tom).

So, I think the "decline" in manners is partly because we've given one another permission to be "more honest" with one another but we've gone way too far in licensing intemperate speech.

 

[Test boy]

People from the West still have manners. Unfortunately we have been inundated by assholes from the Northeast coast. Sorry but I have to call it as I see it. A lot of us got fed up and moved to Idaho and found the Californians had beat us there.

 

[Test boy]

Whaddya think? Are those shows like Jerry Springer indicative of the loss of manners or does media culture contribute to the loss of manners.
I think the "decline" in manners is partly because we've given one another permission to be "more honest" with one another but we've gone way too far in licensing intemperate speech.

I am quite positive that the media culture has substantially contributed to the loss of manners. I include the products of Hollywood when I speak of the media.

Having established this fact, what do we do about it???