My husband once made all the guys on his wrestling team put away their cell phones while eating at a restaurant on their way home from a tournament. They were speechless. He told them it’s rude to be on your phone when you are at the table with other people. Ignore your phone and talk to the people whom you are eating. A few, very few, admitted their parents had the same rules-less than 5% of the guys.
Bad manners is really just a reflection of how you value others. Self centered people do not care how their actions and words affect others. Good manners show that you place other people ahead of yourself by treating them respectfully and making sure that your words and actions do not offend others.
Our society is getting more and more narcissistic and the bad manners reflect that change.
I used to wish I had money to splurge on clothes or furniture, now I dream of materials for my kids from The Etiquette Factory. Manners matter.
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