Sorry, no thank you please
Monika Singh

Social etiquette and good manners, once considered an asset, an essential courtesy in any communication, now appear to be a fading trend. People used words like 'Thank you', 'Please,' ‘Excuse me’ and 'Sorry' in their speech so often to establish long-lasting relationships. Some of the causes responsible for this trend could be:

n Lack of guilt for displaying crude, uncivilised casual behaviour.

n Justifying wrong behaviour. 'I am rude , but I am honest .'

n Inability to imbibe and follow good values.

n Poor emotional climate at home.

n Poor role models to follow in society and dislike of being traditional.

n Peer imitation among youth.

n Inability to carry out expectations set by parents.

n Wanting immediate gratification of needs.

n Lack of time for each other.

n Change in working class.

n Being self-centred, wanting things your own way.

n I-am-always-right attitude.

n Rebelling against social norms.

n Continuing with faulty behaviour patterns due to lack of insight.

n Inability to perceive the larger responsible picture.

Rewarding manners

n Teach good manners when children are young.

n Be good role models for children to follow.

n As responsible adults we have to continue to show the way.

n Teach and give insight that good etiquette and manners are essential for society's growth.

n Learn to be gracious, have verbal and non-verbal courtesies (Open doors for other people, leave thank-you notes, gracefully refuse).

n Realise that good manners are a measure of how wonderful one is. It's a way of life!

Whether it is at school, work place, corporate sectors etc., one learns that being manipulative pays ultimately as it is considered "smart" and therefore this maladaptive behaviour continues.

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