All young children are not raised like the old school.

It's because,a word like "Thank you" has been replaced by "Fu*k you".

because there is.

It's all about "me-me-me"... having started with the "me" generation.

It's failing of the community. When we lived in smaller towns, went to smaller churches, attended smaller schools, our shortcomings were more noticeable. This is a global community now, and I can call you any name in the book and get away with it, because I'm way over here, and not within punching distance. Personally, I love exercising my manners, throws people off :)

I really don't think there is a lack of manners in the world. When I was in Japan there was such an enormous amount of respect toward everyone and the community/environment as soon as I got to the airport in America I had reverse culture shock just from the lack of respect toward fellow man.

Apathy. And a lot of younger people seem to think the world owes them something.

Parents just don't take the time to raise their children anymore. Unfortunately ... life is such that both parents usually have to work outside the home now and they forget that it's their responsibility to raise their children too. Kids just don't get the individualized attention they used to get from their parents ... they grow up having to fend for themselves a lot of the time. Manners and respect "education" get lost in the shuffle!!

Not only did my parents teach me, but I was fortunate enough to go to a private school. When the teachers asked us a question we would say Yes, Ma'am or Yes Sir/ No Ma'am or No Sir or we got in trouble. Kind of wish it was that way today. By 8th grade the students have no respect for the teachers.

No one is at home raising their CHILDREN!

Just for the "look-cool" sake of theirs.

It really does, a lot of it seems to find its way on to Answerbag. I know I'm not perfect, somethings slip my mind and I forget my own manners when I feel somebody has been rude to me. I make a real effort though. I think it is very important, and makes the world a much nicer place.

People make more excuses for bad behaviour in themselves and in others.

Because even the best country in the world's leadership couldn't be bothered to maintain a level of etiquette.

The very people who bemoan this loss -- I don't mean YOU -- are usually the rude ones. I have manners. I use them. I am courteous. I don't care about the stupid greedy squats. I am the way I am for ME.

Too much meat in the diet. It is affecting the heads of the human race to think properly. Meat is always obtained in violent ways from an animal that was unwiilling to die and unwilling to give its flesh that it needed to stay alive. Hence the essence of anger and hatred will remain in the flesh of that corpse. A person that eats that flesh will inherit that anger and hatred from the animal when it was in pain prior to death, and this will show up in the human that ate its flesh as a rude and aggressive temperament. It is not difficult at all to mentally picture a mad and aggressive caveman-like monster chewing on other's flesh without the slightest seed of conscience. As the Ionian Greek mathematician, Pythagoras stated: "For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." and again, according to the The Mahaparinirvana Sutra in Buddhism: "The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of Great Compassion[1]." Thus one sees a sharp rise in rude and aggressive behaviour from the extinguishing of compassion and patience as time goes on with the increase in perverted indulgence of innocent flesh of non-human sentient beings. They eat the essence of anger and violence and so they will eventually turn to monsters one day. The human race is evolving backward. Only a pure vegetarian diet (ie, vegan equivalent) will allow for higher spiritual growth and for the evolution of the human brain to attain a higher level of consciousness. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: [1] The NÄ«lakaṇṭha DhāranÄ« (नीलकण्ठ धारनी) also known as Mahā Karuṇā DhāranÄ« (महा करुणा धारनी), popularly known as the Great Compassion Mantra in English, and known as the DàbÄ“i Zhòu (大悲咒) in Chinese, is a dharani of Mahayana Buddhist origin. It was spoken by the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara before an assembly of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, devas and kings, according to the Mahakarunikacitta Sutra. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Because they're too complicated for some to figure out.

Because people start to believe the notion that the world revolves around them. No need to impress or even care for other people, since their role on earth seems small compared to peoples own lives. I couldnt be happier that I was raised well, learning that you should respect everyone, regardless of their age, gender, race, or social status. People are people. And I know that the latest craze is to "not care" what people think about you. I care what people think about me. I care a great deal. I dont always let that change who I am, because it is an opinion, and while opinions should be heard, some should also be taken with a grain of salt. Im waiting for people to get their head out of their butts long enough to realize that maturity has little to do with age, and more often to do with the respect and manners that you use while interacting with people. ~+~

There's more lawyers.

Because parents are throwing their kids in front of Tv's, Video games, and Cell Phones, INSTEAD of spending quality time with them ... TEACHING the proper way to live their lives ..

Because there is also a lack of give-a-shit.

I agree with almost everything I've read here so far. I just have one element to add: We [Americans] have been saturated in media which promotes terrible behavior. From Cartoons to pop music, nothing is too low brow or course.

Poor training I guess.

It started with feminism, where they rejected the concept of men treating women with special courtesy and it's gone downhill from there.

In my opinon, it is the lack of respect the younger generation has for the older ones. When I was young if I would have done some of those things my butt would be permanetly red. The kids run the houses in some cases. I was in Child Care for many years and children as young as 1 yr old "rule" the house. I could tell you good stories and examples of that. +5

It all depends on whether the parents and teachers teach the children about the importance of having good manners.

I blame a lot of it on the fact that parents these days have forgotten what discipline is. The last generation was raised believing that they could do what they pleases and be damned with the consequences. This may come as a shock but my child got spankings when she needed one. She very seldom gets one because she is a polite respectful child. She helps elderly people when we are in public. If someone drops something she will pick it up for them. She say's 'please' 'excuse me' and 'may I'. I guess she is a throw back to earlier times, and I am VERY PLEASED about that.

Cos no one gets caned in schools any more. That'd sort them out.

Because 'manners' are arbitrary and undefinable lately. Not only do some parents not teach any at all, but other parents selectively teach different rules, and the people teaching their kids manners have different standards. Then we end up having typically polite kids who think something isn't 'rude' when other people think it is.

Because many people are so concerned about getting what they BELIEVE is rightfully THEIRS, that they do not care about considering how their behaviors may effect others. Then too, in many cases with both Parents working, they began, some time ago...it didn't happen over night...to disregard teaching polite behaviors. So their children didn't learn them, and are then not prepared to teach their own children. Our Instant Gratification society is not especially supportive of Good Manners, neither are most TV shows or Movies. Even News Broadcasts support the concept that WE DESERVE TO KNOW...anything, personal tidbits and all that in truth...we don't need to know at all! REAL NEWS is one thing, news about someone who is supposed to be serving a public office or some other NEEDFUL position has placed themselves in the LIGHT, so to speak, and the public does, in my opinion, have a right to know things...they work for US after all, we pay them to do a job. But, I really don't need to know so much about actors and other people in entertainment...their personal lives are not part of my concern or world. A private person who has suffered a loss...I don't need to know their personal business either...that perhaps another CHILD has been shot down in Philly, is all I need to hear to offer up another prayer that stupid behaviors will go by the way side... "My baby Daddy?" NOT MY BUSINESS...a shame that so many people feel the urge to behave like tramps, (male and female) and then SHARE their idiot behaviors on national television! As our NOSINESS HAS BLOSSOMED...SO HAVE OUR GOOD MANNERS AND POLITE BEHAVIORS WITHERED ON THE VINE!

poor upbringing