Manners - are they changing?

LameWolf

annie123 wrote: »

Polite refusals, why can't some people say them any more?

My adult son was on a bus going to work. It starts to fill up and a very pregnant woman boards and stops near him. He immediately stands up and pointing to his seat asks if she would like to sit. 'I'm pregnant not ill or disabled' was the reply shouted at him.
A 'thanks but I'm fine' would have been a polite but clear reply. He looked around and found a student laden with books/bags who gratefully accepted the seat.

One wonders what manners the pregnant woman is going to teach her child when it arrives.....

We visited Bletchley Park recently, and Mr LW needed to use the loo, so I waited for him, in my wheelchair. As I sat there, another visitor asked me if I was OK, and I said I was fine, just waiting for my husband, but I thanked her for asking. I'd no more have been rude to her than fly to the moon!

meritaten

all your replies so far have been very thought provoking! I can see how some people think 'etiquette' is outdated - but go on to stress they teach thier children good manners! others are now starting to have a go because they think its bad manners to complain about another persons 'bad manners' (they are complaining on a forum about manners - not directly to a person - just airing thier views, which is the whole point of the thread! I don't want people to just post 'nice' comments! that would be a boring thread! as long as people can justify thier rants they are entitled to 'rant on'!)

I am also enjoying the posts about learning manners - a lovely little insight into social history!

meritaten

Whew! I did try to thank people whenever I caught up on the thread - but got so fascinated by what I was reading I missed a lot out!
Been back and thanked everyone, If I missed you - I apologise!

Fruball

meritaten wrote: »

all your replies so far have been very thought provoking! I can see how some people think 'etiquette' is outdated - but go on to stress they teach thier children good manners! others are now starting to have a go because they think its bad manners to complain about another persons 'bad manners' (they are complaining on a forum about manners - not directly to a person - just airing thier views, which is the whole point of the thread! I don't want people to just post 'nice' comments! that would be a boring thread! as long as people can justify thier rants they are entitled to 'rant on'!)

I am also enjoying the posts about learning manners - a lovely little insight into social history!

:T

Exactly what I was thinking - it is fine (imo) to freely air your views in a place like this.