Manners & Respect

Socially accepted codes of conduct & polite behaviour, showing respect for others feelings & comfort. A framework for societal interaction which varies according to culture. Differences in norms can create misunderstandings & problems.

 

Do they matter? Well, yes. They demonstrate you care about others & aren't completely self centred. People are more comfortable in social situations if behaviours are predictable. Hopefully there is less friction & misunderstandings.

The language you use is important - please, thank you, excuse me, I'm sorry.... Listening & not interrupting. Respecting boundaries & personal space. Hygiene, (I was very irritated by someone who had a nasty chest infection, continually coughing without covering her mouth. We were a group in a small room.) ....

I think manners are closely linked with respect. Sadly, my impression is that both have diminished over my lifetime. Little things, like if I'm driving & I give way to someone & they don't raise a hand to say thank you, annoy me. Young / healthy people sitting in the priority bus seats for the elderly, disabled or pregnant are infuriating. People sitting on the aisle seat with an empty window seat & not moving when the bus is full. Being buzzed by cyclists / scooters when I'm struggling to walk on the pavement. Similarly groups of children / teenagers walking side by side & occupying the whole width of the pavement so I have to step into the gutter or very edge of the pavement. I could go on, but it is all commonplace. It is the norm & it shouldn't be. 

Lack of manners & respect seems to be cross generational, it isn't just the young. It also seems to be across genders & ethnicity. Different cultures have different norms of behaviour. Living in a culture different to your own can be tricky to navigate, but I would argue that it is your responsibility to adjust.

We learn social behaviours from our parents, family & friends. The UK is still a class based society dependent on wealth or lack of it, so upbringing varies hugely. The problem now would appear to be that there are divisions & differences in what is acceptable which is causing social unrest. 

We need to tackle the root of this. We need a more equitable society.