Why aren't people polite anymore?

Depending what part of the country you are in it is either better or worse. for me, being in NJ I can tell you that most of the 9 milllion residence here are pissed off angry Mother F'ers. Why? because we work too much, get paid too little, have no quality time with our families, property taxes are killing us, tax on everything is killing us, the middle class is gone - all just a few paychecks away from living on the street. Now I'm a nice person to people. Certainly those in my inner circle. But when I go out I expect others to treat me with respect and kindness. (its' just the right thing to do. Now if I get slighted at a store or a clerk does not look at me and say hello, thank you, goodbye, that gets me upset. I can only say this to you - be better then everyone else when it comes to this. I guarentee you the next time you see a stranger coming or going in a doorway or whatever, look that person in the eyes and say something nice about the day, how the look, etc. You will be suprised that they will be nice back.

That is quite a statement for a 20 year old.

I think you know the meaning of decent.

Good for you.

Stay as you are.

Rude people are just more noticeable. Most people try to be polite, I think. You're just not as likely to notice them unless they really go out of their way.

I agree with you! I was brought up to be respectful(Im 34) especially to your elders but these days people have an 'I dont give a care'attitude.

hmmm....TV shows, talk shows, movies, etc. all have influence. Many of them are crude and impolite and this transfers to daily life. Everyone is in a hurry to get nowhere and this causes stress.

"A right to free speech is not a ticket to insults and rudeness."

And should not be.

So true!

because it's america we have it easy. everyone is taking advantage of it.