Manners

When did we decide that good manners were not necessary? I watch the school kids on the bus in the morning doing their very best to ignore the fact that adults are standing even though they are sitting under a sign that says they must give up their seats for adults. I have even seen one young man put his bag on the seat so no-one can sit next to him. His father travels on the same bus and allows this to happen.

We went camping this last weekend. There were a bunch of young men who thought it was cool to have their showers in the female amenities block. When I asked them to leave I got "what's up your a***" and a belligerent stare. He thought he could bluff me and when I insisted he go outside he got even more snakey. His mate who was in the shower was a tad more panicky but still neither of them thought it was inappropriate, either to be in there or to be rude to me. When my husband stepped in they became defensive but still did not consider an apology necessary. The family camping next to us had young girls who were afraid to go to the toilet or shower on their own.

We seem to be becoming a nation of people who believe they can do what they wish with no thought for anyone else. My mother would have kicked my a*** for acting like any of these young people. Maybe we made a mistake in doing away with both parents and the local cop who would give us a friendly boot up the behind if we were acting like idiots.