Where, oh where, have good manners gone?

In discussing the value of good manners, American author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. is quoted as saying, “Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people’s bad manners.” I get what he means, but as I wrote in a previous column, I’m not so sure I can do that anymore. I’ve become very irritated with the number of people who attend fundraisers and then chatter through the entire event.

A lot of bad habits have developed because of covid but I can’t blame it for this one. About two years before, I attended a fundraiser in Brazos County. It was emceed by KBTX’s finest and the audience was comprised of county movers, shakers and folks from the Big School, all of whom should be well-versed in good manners but that’s not how it played out. The event was held at a new venue and to enhance the ambience, they dimmed the lights. Shielded by the darkness, four women at the table behind us talked incessantly the entire evening. The din of whispers from table-to-table in the dimly lit room became such a roar the executive director actually commandeered the microphone to tell this audience of grown-ups to be quiet! Sadly, it seems to be a trend even in brightly lit rooms and no one is stepping up to tell grown-ups to mind their manners.

I recently attended events in Washington and Grimes counties, at which people continued to “visit” well after the program started. At the last event, our concentration on the speakers was continually interrupted by four women next to us deep in conversation and oblivious to the events on the stage but the men were just as guilty. Groups stood in the back of the room talking and laughing.

Another worthy event I attended a few months back was going fine until people who paid to see only the band came in. They stood in the back of the room talking and their collective voices drowned out for many of us what the last speaker had to say.

Looking at the age of the majority of offenders, I have to say perhaps my baby boomer generation didn’t do such a good job of teaching manners to our children. Their lack of training combined with the current emphasis on “me” may have trickled down to a new generation who don’t even know what manners are. It’s true, not every speaker is charismatic and entertaining but that doesn’t absolve the audience of its responsibility for good manners.

Unfortunately, short of yanking the microphone out of the speaker’s hand and yelling “Shut up!,” I don’t have the answer but I’m afraid that soon even the lure of a steak dinner won’t compensate for an evening with magpies.

I’m going to close with this timeless quote from American dancer, actor and choreographer, Fred Astaire, “The hardest job children face today is learning manners without seeing any.”

The column represents the thoughts and opinions of Connie Clements. Opinion columns are NOT the opinion of the Navasota Examiner. Clements is a freelance reporter for the Navasota Examiner and an award-winning columnist.