Anonymous wrote:“Pardon” is déclassé and I would never use it. I say excuse me all the time, though.

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed this in stores - no one says "excuse me" or "pardon me" if they need to get by, or cross in front of someone. It's not an age thing eitherWhen did this basic courtesy stop? And why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed this in stores - no one says "excuse me" or "pardon me" if they need to get by, or cross in front of someone. It's not an age thing either - I'm 45, and people my age or older don't say it anymore, either. Younger, all races, skin colors, etc.

My parents were brown immigrants and raised us to have basic manners and courtesy. When did this basic courtesy stop? And why?

I say excuse me and taught my children as well as teaching them to say Please,Thank You. Good morning/, afternoon or evening. I also taught them to hold doors open if someone was behind them.

It is the duty of parents to teach good manners to their children. Sadly, so few Millennials display good manners themselves.

+1 to all of the above

Also:

If you’re on public transit and someone seems to need a seat more than you do, you should offer yours to them.

and

Any time you’re doing any kind of business with someone (including giving the teenager behind the McDonalds counter your order), you call them Sir or Ma’am.

Really? To me sir and ma’am are for older people and it might seem mocking? I’m very polite but don’t do that with young people.

It’s a regional thing, in the south children and some adults use sir or ma’am all the time. IMO everything that is “manners” down can still be window dressing for really rotten/evil culture, but the sir/ma’am thing is mostly benign.

Adults do not call young people sir and ma’am though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m totally with you on this. I’m from Memphis and I’m amazed of the lack of manners. Instead of folks saying “excuse me” or “pardon me” folks will just stand creepedly (sp) behind you or beside you if you’re in their way and the like. So frustrating. Walk in held doors, never say thank you. Just rude.

They're assuming you will make a choice and move on like a normal person. They're essentially waiting in line, it would be rude to say excuse me to the person in front if you're waiting your turn.

Nope. Clearly you don’t know the social rules. It’s not rude to say “excuse me/pardon me” if it’s unclear of what’s going on in front of you. What I mean by creepedly standing behind you, the person may have no idea someone is standing behind them. But I often don’t feel a person’s presence and will be startled that someone is behind me! They just standing there and don’t say anything. Or folks bump into you or crash into your basket (actually physically bump into you, this happens at Costco a lot). It’s rude not to say excuse me or pardon me. I was at aldi the other day looking at some ice cream in the freezer, comparing expiration dates and this teenage girl just stood behind me, like 5 inches behind me. Startled the $hit out of me, I turned around and was like, will you give me some space. If they want to reach in quickly, the proper thing to do is say “pardon me or excuse me, may I just grab a carton of vanilla please?” She was so close, when I swung around my pony tail landed in her mouth. I was like WTF!

Or not say thanks when someone holds the door for you and your family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Pardon” is déclassé and I would never use it. I say excuse me all the time, though.

Oh no! Not déclassé!

What horror.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed this in stores - no one says "excuse me" or "pardon me" if they need to get by, or cross in front of someone. It's not an age thing either - I'm 45, and people my age or older don't say it anymore, either. Younger, all races, skin colors, etc.

My parents were brown immigrants and raised us to have basic manners and courtesy. When did this basic courtesy stop? And why?

I say excuse me and taught my children as well as teaching them to say Please,Thank You. Good morning/, afternoon or evening. I also taught them to hold doors open if someone was behind them.

It is the duty of parents to teach good manners to their children. Sadly, so few Millennials display good manners themselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Pardon” is déclassé and I would never use it. I say excuse me all the time, though.

Oh no! Not déclassé!

What horror.