When the members of a society lose consideration for each other it may be exhibited by indifferent behaviour, a decline in politeness, increasing rudeness and, ultimately, a propensity for violence. A culture of incivility exists in many localities. The spectrum includes rude language, disregard for the rights of others, open violation of the law, aggressiveness, violence and crime.
With the decline of traditional roles and rituals, it is often difficult to recognize where respect is due. This results in confusion and a feeling of inadequacy, which in turn lead to a lack of civility.
In New York City, for example, a high degree of aggressiveness, violence and crime is tolerated. People watch passively as crimes such as murder, robbery and assault are committed and cries for help go unheeded. In the UK, there has been a marked increase in discourtesy, including hooliganism at sports events, swearing in public, aggressive and even dangerous driving, and destruction of public property.
Manners are trivial, profound and amorphous beyond compassing. Manners are what is left when serious issues of human relations are removed from consideration; yet without manners serious human relations are impossible. (Mark Caldwell).
The more crowded our living spaces become, the more we need courtesy and an acknowledgement of each person's right to mental space.
Networking arrived after the fall of formal manners. While the main ingredient of manners is treating others with the respect due to an equal, networking treats others as commodities.
Many modern courtesies are mere market-researched techniques, courtesies calculated to make us spend money.
What is mannerly to some will be unmannerly to others, and in many instances there simply is no way to reconcile the differences.
Modern incivility is nothing but a lack of time. People in a hurry easily become angry, and angry people are seldom courteous.
We are coerced into niceness. We are humiliated into courtesy. Insisting that people be "nice" is just a way of keeping them in line.