Okay, I was raised to say "Please" and "Thank-you" and "Excuse Me" and to respect my elders and I wasn't born in the Dark Ages...why does there seem to be a generation that has completely lost this respect??

I shouldn't just say generation, because this rude behavior seems to "rub-off" on older folks as well. One of my big pet peeves: I'm standing in the grocery store, looking at an item trying to decide if I want/need it, my cart is mostly out of the way. Next thing I know someone is standing there, behind me, anxiously waiting for me to move, but not saying anything. Don't people realize if they say "Excuse Me" I will GLADLY move quickly. Did I miss the passage in Emily Post where "Excuse Me" became rude?? Is it not more rude to stand there impatiently and just expect me to read your mind? Or to heave a big, heavy sigh in hopes that I hear you.

Or how about when I hold the door open for someone and they don't acknowledge my existence. "HELLO???" A simple, "Thank-you" would be nice. Of course, this is when I say "You're Welcome" whether they thanked me or not, but it tends to be louder when they don't. No, I'm not doing it FOR the gratitude or the recognition, I just would like to see some more MANNERS!

I have been substitute teaching lately for grade school and middle school - the older they get, the worse they behave it seems. I have also worked with college students and again, the older ones are the worse behaved. Why does it have to be this way? Why don't parents stop trying to be "friends" to their children and teach them some respect (you have plenty of time to be friends when they grow up!).

As my character in the play I will be performing in soon says: "That's today's sermon"