39

ruiheh

39. “Courtesy is rapidly disappearing from everyday interactions, and as a result, we are all the poorer for it.”
From your perspective, is this an accurate observation? Why or why not? Explain, using reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The author claim that courtesy is deteriorating rapidly and consequentially, all are poor of it. Perhaps so if the author is comparing our manners and etiquettes with the definition stated in the 14th century book the courtier. However, in reality, this is not so.

Most importantly, courtesy is everywhere. Most people encounter ordinary courtesy and good manner on a daily basis. For example, people offering seats to elder and disabled; in market, people letting others ahead with fewer items; a smoker asking others whether they mind before he or she lights up. Admittedly, people account misdemeanors on a daily basis as well. A business associate ignoring calls; some drivers cutting in front of other cars; people using false language in public when children are present; and, people not washing their hands after using restroom. Simply because misbehaves abound, it does not give ways to conclude that courtesy is disappear.  At most, one can conclude the two co-exists.

Additionally, we must also not forget about prevalence of media bias. People love "good" stories. Ones that often provoke the most interests in today's society are those that expose the wickedness and mischiefs of modern society. Because good act are less interesting to talk about. Could it be that everyone is so used to good courtesy, hence making it a less appealing subject for media?

Last but not least, society differs and a common set of rules may not be applicable to all. People accusing others of bad courtesy may be misinformed or not seeing other's difficulties or not thinking about their reasonings. For instance, for any military officers who were sent ashore to the Iraq’s war would not forget the agonies and chaotic lives in refugee camps in Iraq, a country in war for the past ten years. There, it is reasonable to expect people to fight for supplies, fight for a better tent in a refugee camp, and ignore common courtesy that are abound elsewhere. The fact that environments and surrounding can greatly change a person's behaviors and actions is so vividly true there in Iraq.

In sum, it may be the case that in some countries or society the appearance of courtesy degradation is evident but to conclude all are poor of it may be a too strong of a statement. We should carefully examine the causes prior to making such generalization. Also we should not listen without thinking to media and instead we should be vigilant about the media biases. At last but not least, in any place, there will always be courtesy and mis-courtesy just as the ubiquitous good and evil.