I think lack of manners at the moment is due to the fall out of Covid, I think we all got comfortable keeping a distance and also it taught us all to look out for no.1 and screw anyone else. I mean I look back at how hardcore some people were about toilet roll and petrol! We saw the best of some people but the majority were utter knobs.
Secondly, this cost of living crisis isn’t helping. People are under immense pressure at the moment and I think due to that people have a much shorter fuse.
I’m probably going to get flamed for this but I also think decent parenting has gone out of the window. As a child, I was raised by my mum with her values. I learnt to say please and thank you. I engaged with other children socially that involved interactive games. Waiting my turn when an adult was talking and not interrupting etc etc. I was reprimanded appropriately when I did something rude or behaved badly. My mum would hold out all day if I refused to do something in order to instill manners in me.
Now? We have a generation of children being raised by grandparents/child minders as both parents need to work. Most of whom are not taking the time to teach basic manners/ disciplining children. Why would you put in the effort to do that for someone else’s child when either you aren’t getting paid that much or you are looking after them solely as they are your grandchild? Then, say you do a full time job, by the time you collect your child from childcare/grandparents, feed them their dinner, bathe them and tuck them into bed. That parent is spending about 3 hours a day with their child. That child isn’t going to respond that well to someone who barely spends quality time with them. Why would they? Then at weekends, again you’re going to want an easy life as you barely spend time with your kid and want them to be zero hassle so you let things slide or alternatively you are that knackered from work that you again do anything for an easy life.
Schools are also restricted more now in terms of discipline. You’re expected to reason with children and de-escalate situations. Whereas back in the day, I would have been quite rightly told off!
*prepares to be flamed by parents who have children looked after by childminders and grandparents*