Please Read this Article, Thank you

Article: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/09/148295675/please-read-this-story-thank-you

Central Argument: The use of courteous language has slowly and gradually been vanishing.

            This article is cleverly entitled Please Read this Article, Thank you and is written by Linton Weeks. He writes about courteous language and behavior, a once common and norm in society, seems to be slowly and gradually vanishing.  Personally, I don’t agree with this statement. I think that people still are courteous; it is just generations and time that have modified the original common phrase, like thank you and your welcome, into new ones. It doesn’t mean good manners have been completely erased; it just means they are differently presented nowadays. Sure, it wouldn’t hurt if we could return to the old ways as they do seem to be more respectful and, sure, some people good use a little attitude adjusting, but the important thing is acknowledging the appreciation expressed. There is only a problem if the people are not just modifying the old words and replacing them with others, but the common respect for one disappears too. Who really cares what you say as long as the other person gets the message that you appreciate what they have done? Courtesy is still around and can be seen in the modernized words that have replaced the originals and in the common examples that occur every day.

            Firstly, it is very true that language overtime changes. Take the original greeting, for example, of “How do you do?” It became "Hello, how are you?" which in turn morphed into "Hello, how are things?" Or "How's it going?" As Cindy Senning, director of an institute dedicated to promoting etiquette and civility, says, "The principles of respect, consideration and honesty are universal and timeless," but, "manners change over time and from culture to culture." It doesn’t matter that “you’re welcome” has turned into “no problem,” or that “thank you” has become “got it.” The point is that people get one another and together can acknowledge that it means thank you or you’re welcome. You can’t justify that common courtesy is disappearing by saying that “no problem” isn’t good enough. Courtesy can be defined as the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior toward another or others. By saying “no problem” you are still following the definition of courtesy thus showing that just because the norms and manners and mores have changed, it doesn’t mean the respect and courtesy get lost in it all. 

            Secondly, courtesy can be seen flourishing in society all the time if you really take the time to find it. I know that you may have a bad run in once in a while, like Gregory Smith shares in the article, and that 76% of people who took this survey said that Americans are becoming more rude than civil, but courtesy has not just vanished. People, naturally, remember the bad things over the little miracles that happen every day. Say you are driving home from work and a car cuts you off; you’re more likely to remember the fact that you got cut off than that person you let you go first and then crossed the street. That contributes to the view that courtesy and manners have been diminishing, but really, people just are becoming less and less observant.

            Mt third point is that many people truly are quite well-mannered in everyday life. Take the story of Margret Lacey if you still think common courtesy has vanished. She is a regular customer at this grocery store café. When she walked in in the morning, they greeted her with a hearty “Good morning” and asked if she wanted the usual. As they made her coffee they asked her about how her morning had been and as she left they said, “Enjoy. See you tomorrow.” If that isn’t common courtesy I don’t know what is. The difference between why she thinks restaurant workers treat her so nicely, unlike George Smith, is simply because she doesn’t expect people to utter the same old same olds.

            In conclusion, words may modify and manners may change but that doesn’t mean the politeness and gratitude is no longer there in society. Imagine the stares you would get if you went into a shop and said, “How do you do?” while taking a courtesy or a bow. Just because you don’t go all out any more, like in the old days, it doesn’t mean people don’t do the same thing you’re doing by curtseying and bowing just in a more modern way.