Are Americans Ruder Than They Used To Be?
SodaHead Living
2012/03/18 23:41:47
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The magic words ("please," "thank you," and "you’re welcome") may be going out of fashion. But does that necessarily mean that Americans are getting ruder?
These days, it has become increasingly common to hear phrases like “sure,” “no problem,” “you bet,” and “enjoy” replace the traditional “you’re welcome.” In place of “thank you” people now say “got it,” “have a good one,” or sometimes nothing at all. “I’m good” has taken over the domain of the more formal “no, thank you.”
A recent NPR story examined this trend and posed some interesting questions: “Are we just finding new ways to say old, polite phrases? Are good manners merely morphing? Or are they fading away altogether?”
Lisa Gache, co-founder of Beverly Hills Manners, is troubled by this shift in American colloquialisms. "The slow erosion of the 'magic words' in our everyday vernacular has to do with the predilection toward all things casual in our society today. Casual conversation, casual dress, and casual behavior have hijacked practically all areas of life, and I do not think it is doing anyone a service," she said.
However, Cindy Post Senning, granddaughter of etiquette maven Emily Post and a director of the Emily Post Institute, believes that the principles of respect, consideration, and honesty are more important than the actual words used.
“It is respectful to make requests rather than demands, to show gratitude and appreciation, to greet others, to give our complete attention, to acknowledge appreciation shown, to acknowledge and show respect for age, standing, importance," she said.
Yet, she went on to explain that manners evolve over time and vary from culture to culture. In some cases, it may even be impolite to use outdated phrases. Senning explained, "Today it would sound a little stilted and perhaps even disrespectful if a sarcastic tone is used to say 'How do you do?'"
Words and phrases certainly aren’t the only elements of polite behavior. However, the shift away from traditional manners may be indicative of a larger trend. In 2011, a Rasmussen Reports poll revealed that 76% of respondents believed that Americans were “becoming more rude and less civil.” (Don’t even get us started on cell phone etiquette!)
What do you think SodaHeads? Are Americans ruder than they used to be?
These days, it has become increasingly common to hear phrases like “sure,” “no problem,” “you bet,” and “enjoy” replace the traditional “you’re welcome.” In place of “thank you” people now say “got it,” “have a good one,” or sometimes nothing at all. “I’m good” has taken over the domain of the more formal “no, thank you.”
A recent NPR story examined this trend and posed some interesting questions: “Are we just finding new ways to say old, polite phrases? Are good manners merely morphing? Or are they fading away altogether?”
Lisa Gache, co-founder of Beverly Hills Manners, is troubled by this shift in American colloquialisms. "The slow erosion of the 'magic words' in our everyday vernacular has to do with the predilection toward all things casual in our society today. Casual conversation, casual dress, and casual behavior have hijacked practically all areas of life, and I do not think it is doing anyone a service," she said.
However, Cindy Post Senning, granddaughter of etiquette maven Emily Post and a director of the Emily Post Institute, believes that the principles of respect, consideration, and honesty are more important than the actual words used.
“It is respectful to make requests rather than demands, to show gratitude and appreciation, to greet others, to give our complete attention, to acknowledge appreciation shown, to acknowledge and show respect for age, standing, importance," she said.
Yet, she went on to explain that manners evolve over time and vary from culture to culture. In some cases, it may even be impolite to use outdated phrases. Senning explained, "Today it would sound a little stilted and perhaps even disrespectful if a sarcastic tone is used to say 'How do you do?'"
Words and phrases certainly aren’t the only elements of polite behavior. However, the shift away from traditional manners may be indicative of a larger trend. In 2011, a Rasmussen Reports poll revealed that 76% of respondents believed that Americans were “becoming more rude and less civil.” (Don’t even get us started on cell phone etiquette!)
What do you think SodaHeads? Are Americans ruder than they used to be?
Read More: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/09/148295675/please-rea...
Top Opinion
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Pixie·MzAwesome♠ƤĦĂĔŢ♠ 2012/03/18 23:55:11No
+10I don't know, I teach my daughter to say please and thank you and have had many people tell me what a polite young girl she is.
Here I will quote it for you.. "So I guess I can be rude and polite.." I guess I did not claim not to be rude. Some people may call it rude.. that's fine. If someone is rude to me, I respond in kind. Play nice and I play nice.
Loud. I would have said the Italians were the loudest but that is just me.
Americans like to party so maybe that is what they were hearing. Not sure. We go there to cut loose so it's no surprise to me that it could of happened.
Go to Europe your scum. Go to an Asian country and you are a King. Some just appreciate what we have done more.
1. We're loud.
2. We walk too slowly (I'll agree with this one).
3. We make stupid assumptions. Stuff like "why don't you have an English menu?" or "You mean you don't accept dollars?" - at a small restaurant in a village.
That's rediculous
If it's a new vocabulary trend then it's going to be everyone and the main reason why is because of EVERYONE'S text lingo
I live in Texas and say please, thank you, and you're welcome every single day
Please go find another way to single out "Americans"
On the other hand, it's not new! You can easily find older articles and references to declining courtesy as far back as the civil war.
The saving grace is I too have seen great acts of kindness but it is getter further and father inbetween.