What I mean by politeness is really just being aware that there are other people in the universe. I noticed it walking down an isle at a supermarket and some person and I crossed paths so I said excuse me. I was with a friend who looked back at the person and said something like "people are so rude." Frankly, I didn't even notice. I realized at that moment that this happens all the time. It is rare, very rare indeed when some other person will say excuse me in these moments when more than one person is trying to occupy the same space. Maybe it's because of the city that I live in, maybe it's because the town I live, and I'm hoping that somewhere in the world this concepts is still alive and well. I hope somewhere in this country people are still teaching their children this basic and fundamental social convention.
Most of the shops that I go into, the young clerk has an almost complete disregard for these kinds of social manners. They neither look the customer in the eye, nor do they say anything when they give back change. No thank you, no have a nice day, nothing at all. I remember working in a supermarket in high school, and part of my training was being polite to customer. And some of these people were downright mean, but it was our job to be nice, say thank you, and go about our business. Now it seems like a skit from Mad TV with Shaquiqui working the register. It's like the customer needs to come in and be polite to the clerk. It's as if these stores have so many customers to choose from that they frankly couldn't care about keeping any individual. This is something that I would like to see change. It isn't that I need anyone sychophantically catering to my every need, but I really don't mind a chipper, well meaning and enthusiastic person taking my money and giving me my change.
I certainly have my theory on how and why this phenomenon is occurring, but I'll save that for some other long and confusing blog. For now I'd just like to look at this very strange happening where we no longer seem to be concerned with anything other than our own little world.
