"Where are your manners?"

More and more I'm realising that good manners and etiquette are becoming lost in this increasingly selfish and self-obsessed culture. Social awareness, responsibility and skills are far from the top of people's lists. Rarely do I hear the words "excuse me" or "sorry" as someone barges past or walks into my path.

Some (many in fact) seem to think nothing of coughing or sneezing without covering their faces and happily in the direction and vacinity of another individual. Not exactly manners this - but important nonetheless - I often see men leave the urinal or (even worse) toilet cubicle, without washing their hands afterwards. I move to let people past in the street, hold doors open - not too commonly do I hear the words "thank you".

When it comes to conversation, we deal with one of my personal pet dislikes - interrupting. Numerous times everyday, I'll be talking when, midsentence, the person I'm talking to blurts out their own thoughts on (usually) a separate subject, without any apparent care or concern for my own attempt to communicate.

I could go on and on in this vein but instead I'll offer an idea. Perhaps in this age when "respect" is a buzzword, real and true respect is a rare commodity. People just don't care about anything much, at least not anything important. We see all around us a culture of self-gratification, ego and greed.

The world, it seems, moves too fast to bother with something as unsignificant as other people. Looking at things, I can only imagine that for the most part, this'll only get worse.

We can all make an effort to reverse this trend, at least within our own spheres of influence. When someone talks, listen and try to talk with (not at) them.

Say "please", "Thankyou" and all the other pleasant words our language is blessed with.

Open doors and give up your seat on the bus for an old lady.

Help a mother lift her child's pushchair off the same bus.

As my own mum would say (or probably similar at least) "manners don't cost anything". As our culture becomes even more rude and obnoxious, ask yourself '"where are your manners?"

Kemlyn