Where Have the Manners Gone?
What an exciting week it was. Fun times are all around if you open yourself up to them, and I have decided to make this summer vacationing in Ontario fun, by heading out on a series of mini-excursions, to here, there and everywhere. Last week, I started this little adventure streak by taking the train up to Toronto to watch the Toronto Blue Jays play baseball against the California Angels. They didn't win but it sure was close. I have to tell you that I was a little worried about venturing into Toronto aka the "Big Smoke," by myself, but in retrospect, there was nothing to fear.
Toronto is a clean, friendly and down to earth city. That's quite a feat when you have a population in the millions. The entire experience left me pondering how the big metropolis of Toronto got to be more pleasant than some of the small towns of eastern Ontario? There were lots of sorry's, excuse me's, thank you's, your welcome's and warm exchanges. To me, people are far more courteous and respectful there, than in some of the local small towns.
What's happened in these small towns, to create this culture of impolite or non-exchanges? I'm not sure, but it wasn't that way when I lived here 10 years ago. I'll give you an example of what I'm talking about. Picture this, you venture into the local doughnut shop and hold the door open for someone, you rarely get a thank you, to which I say sarcastically, "Oh, you are so welcome!" Then you walk out into the parking lot and watch a driver hit and scratch another person's vehicle, and then just drive off into the sunset. And before you say, it's the young people; I'm telling you it's not, unless the youth of today are grey haired and driving environmentally friendly Lincoln Continentals.
This phenomenon isn't just a Canadian problem. I have to tell you that in Denmark about 8 years ago or so, the media got hold of a survey that said Danes had the worst manners in all of Europe. The Danes took this critique seriously and decided to take action, by asking its citizens to make a conscious effort to be more polite by saying thank you, excuse me, and you're welcome. I have to say this might have left an imprint, because after I've been away and head back to Copenhagen, I find people to be quite courteous and respectful in comparison to other cities.
Personally, I think good manners are crucial in order to draw communities together, and make people feel included and respected. Most folks just want to be seen, heard and understood on some level. Otherwise, you have a society of people who don't care about each other, and then they don't think twice about punching your lights out, breaking into your home or forming gangs, where at least they feel welcome and that they belong.
