Friday, February 29, 2008

random 4 am rambling

So, I was just on my myspace blog and the ad on the side was an ad for "sugardaddie.com" Was it something I wrote that triggered that? Or does myspace use random advertising. I'm a little insulted. Is this because I was looking at expensive rings the other day????

on to my ramblings.

I was on the T today with Jeff and we were talking about... or maybe i shouldn't put words in his mouth as much... i was talking about the lack of manners in today's society. It doesn't just bother me... it depresses me. It seems like there are millions of kids running around the country right now who have no idea what manners are. How did the words please and thank you get lost in ONE generation? How come I learned to give up my seat for an elderly person but the kids ten, fifteen years younger just don't have a fucking clue?

I commented that in the 50's, even the most rebelious brat - the biggest punk on the block - was probably 100 times more polite or well mannered than today's kids.

Its just depressing. Its depressing that being a complete jackass in public is now acceptable. Pushing past people without so much as a little "excuse me" or "i'm sorry" is okay. In fact, I feel like people look at me strange for apologizing sometimes. And its not just the words. All these kids showed up at the statehouse a few days ago dressed in their usual school attire - no, i'm not referring to what you glendale people wear to school. think hoochie mama and saggy jeans and the whole bit. Does no one tell these kids that it might be a good idea to put some decent clothes on when you're going to meet with your Senator? wtf?

I don't know. Maybe i'm too sensitive. Maybe I'm too old school. Whatever it is, it just bugs me to see the lack of respect, courtesy, and just plain ole manners - knowing when something is appropriate and when its not. I mean, I was def guilty of wearing a hoochie mama outfit to some inappropriate function but my mom was always quick to pounce on me for it and eventually, you listen - you learn!

Anyway, the day didn't end so bad. I was at the gym and mostly listening to music but i happened to glance up at the TV just in time to catch this segment on this kid Andrew. Andrew has down syndrome. He has played bball since 4th grade and he still plays on his high school varsity team. The segment showed him at last night's championship game where he got to play the last few seconds of the game and take a shot. What was incredible to watch was how genuinely happy his teammates seemed. I'm sure there are a some aholes around but for the most part, the team was great - they were practicing with him and warming up with him and hanging out with him on the bench. He really was a part of the team. I'm so used to high school and college athletes being super competitive and egotistical - they usually resent the crappy player because he's just annoying - he ruins the game, screws up the flow of practice etc. But these guys showed none of that. Of course, it might have been b/c of the cameras but from what the coach and players and parents said - it seemed to be a pretty accurate picture of the team. Little things like that give me hope - when high school kids can be adult enough and compassionate enough to accept someone that is different (do you remember how "different" kids were treated at your school???)... well, i guess the world might just be okay.

gnite folks.

2 comments:

Captain Chipmunk said...

I love how no one pulls over now when an emergency vehicle passes. A few weeks ago, a guy honked at me for not going through a green light when the ambulance was still in the intersection!

We've become a society of entitlement and apathy. If I could move to a country where common courtesy is still the norm (like Japan), I would be there in a heartbeat.

sarah said...

actually, you're right that these things are disgusting, but it wasn't lost in a half-generation. (i'm pretty sure you're technically in the same generation as those hoodlums you're talking about.) it's been slowly happening over the last 30 years. there are still teenagers today who know how to act respectively, and there are older people who don't.