Are manners a thing of the past, is the "Gentleman" of old a dying breed?

I ask because I recently attended a careers evening for my daughter at her school. This was specifically designed to help her choose what subjects she would like to do to help her after she leaves.

I was talking to the teacher of ICT and mid conversation, and without a thought; he simply walked off and began to talk to the parents of another child whom had just entered. I was shocked at his rudeness and told him so. He obviously thought this other child would fare a better chance in his lesson as I have a special needs daughter.

I bring my children up to be polite and courteous, always having impeccable manners and respecting their elders but sometimes it is so difficult when adults are so very curt and rude. There was simply no necessity for his rudeness and nescient attitude.

So I ask the question. Are manners a thing of the past, does rudeness and impoliteness annoy you and are the gentleman of old a dying breed. Or am I just having a rant. lol. It's a serious question to all.


Simon

Do they know what manners are?

Should Social Etiquette be taught at school if it's not in the home?

Are ipods, TV, mobile phones and computer games bring up a generation of unsocial individuals?

Manners don't cost anything, without them the World would be a sorry place to be, full of greed.

I for one would love to see it in school. It unfortunately isn't just the young ones, all too often we see older people who lack the most basic of manners.

I once came across a school website that had manners as a lesson taught in their dinner hour and played a part in the school day. It was THE main feature on their front webpage. I appreciate teachers do their utmost to instil manners but it is soon forgot if they are not taught it at home.

Kindest regards

Simon

Dear Simon.
You are not alone with your views on manners,morals and standards.
I loved Mr T's series, which took the viewers all around the U.K. with spectacular footage of an amazing island/islands. fortunately it did'nt show what is really happening to the U.K.
I love England but could no longer tolerate what is happening to it.So.... We moved to France, where life is how it 'should' be.
I'm not going to rant about all the good and bad things regarding both countries or this site will crash.
I have one regret.........I wish we had made the move years ago.
Best wishes.
Peter scott.
Charente.
S.W. France.

Hello Peter

I have lived all over the world, from Stockholm to the Maldives and always end up back in blighty. I know of several people whom have moved because of the social structure here in the UK. It is such a shame when we live in such a beautiful country. I for one couldn't leave again, unless called away by HMG, I love it here but am simply agast at the nescient attitude shown by some, not all.

I believe France is a beautiful country and am pleased you are happy there. It's a shame we are let down by a few and that some people find what they do socially acceptable. I just wish it was taught in school as part of the agenda.

My kindest regards to you Peter and have a bottle of wine for me, au revoir

Simon

No Simon you are not alone I'm afraid. Gentlemen are very thin on the ground and as a old fashioned girl living in a generation of self obsessed people it becomes quite hard (I know not all people ......I suppose this is a cruel generalization). I just find it hard as most people I meet, went to school with etc are quite self absorbed and rarely think about other people's intent and feelings. This is one of those things that should be passed down from generation to generation but not everyone has as fantastic parents as I have, so I suppose we have to look to teachers. However the teachers you are talking about Simon do not seem to be setting a good example at all.I think we under estimate the power of a good role model in life!

I wonder what the next generation is going to be like....and the next...and the next

Well I dread to think.

I am very old fashioned, very. I was always tought not to interupt, to stand when a lady enters the room or leaves the table, to be polite at all times and to open doors etc. Sometimes these in their own right have their own difficulties. If I stand when a lady enters the room I get "funny" looks bacause few people do it nowadays, if I open the door for someone or hold it more often than not I don't get a "Thank You", and sometimes no matter how hard you try it's like flogging a dead horse.

Despite all these Faux Pas I still keep my manners intact and instil them in my children, of which I have four. They sometimes will say that a person didn't thank them for holding the door or pull people up because they didn't say please which means I am doing something right. If they don't use their manners they don't get it in our house, simple as that.

I just wish in a day and age where youngsters carry knives, smoking drugs is considered "the norm" and kids stay up till 2am playing games that their parents and school would teach them some of the values most of us hold dear and consider social etiquette and have a little more respect for one another. Just driving around it feels like the care has gone from our world.

Kindest regards

Simon

I agree that manners are a thing of the past. I never cease to be amazed by people's rudeness!

One of my gripes is agression whilst driving! No-one says 'thank you' any more and no-one seems to be taught about 'rights of way'! People just barge along and expect you to get out of the way even if the obstruction is on their side of the road!

You see instances of bad manners everywhere, especially on TV! Maybe that's one of the reasons I like Alan so much, he's one of nature's gentlemen!
sx