Where are our manners?

After a huge slack-off in seeing movies this past month, I decided that I needed to high-tail it to the theatres to see Reese Witherspoon’s Just Like Heaven (review on MBc to come later). I was aghast at the type of behavior exhibited in the theatre, from the child kicking the back of my seat (of course, I turned around and said something), a woman talking on her cell phone during the movie, another parent allowing her kids to thunder up and down the steps throughout the film.

It made me wonder where our manners have gone nowadays?

Now, I realize that there are certain things that can be disputed such as ancient wedding traditions of who pays for what and following formal protocol. But, what about things that just seem so obvious to me like opening a door for a person who has his/her arms full? Or, not thinking you’re so important as to block an intersection for the others who actually have a green light?

I often wonder if perhaps I have a different expectation of manners because of the way I was raised, and even more so, by a Southern mama (please imagine my fake southern drawl there). I noticed this in particular when I was in New York where people bump into you without excusing themselves, they don’t make eye contact, God forbid someone just says “hi” to a stranger, and people constantly interrupt each other.

I noticed at one point on the subway that out of the 20 people standing on the train, I was the only woman. I mentioned something to my friend Brook about it, and she said that it probably would’ve been the same thing in Seattle. I explained that after having lived in Texas for 10 years, I guess I just got used to the idea of that type of chivalry. Now, I was not offended that I wasn’t asked if I wanted to sit, but it was more of a surprise and observation on the difference in the way things are done, even in the same country.

Are there any standards on what is considered rude anymore? Is there a difference between rudeness and being inconsiderate?

I’m going to start a small list of things I think are bad manners and you can tell me if I’m smoking crack or feel free to add to it:

1. People I barely know who ask me how much I’ll make on selling my place
2. People who cut in long lines
3. When I’m in a store trying to get assistance, and the clerk “shushes” me so they can help the person on the phone
4. People who tell me how they think I should spend my money
5. People who ask me my bra size