Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

There was a time—not so long ago—when basic human decency was as normal as morning coffee. A time when a stranger’s smile could turn your whole day around. When “please” and “thank you” weren’t reserved for formal occasions, and good manners were just part of the social fabric. You held the door open for the person behind you (even if they were just a little too far away), and if you accidentally bumped someone on the street, you apologized out of instinct—then maybe shared a quick laugh to lighten the moment.

Today? Not so much.

Let’s be honest, it’s starting to feel like good manners are on the endangered species list.

Where Did the Courtesy Go?

Remember when young people would jump up on the bus to give their seat to a pregnant woman, an elder, or someone juggling three kids and a diaper bag? Now? You're lucky if they look up from their phones. The earbuds stay in, the eyes stay down, and the moment of humanity gets skipped altogether.

It’s not just about seats on public transit. It’s the way we interact—or more often, don’t interact—with one another. The smallest acts of kindness, the warmest gestures of neighborliness, seem to be fading into distant memory. Somewhere along the way, we replaced connection with convenience, and it shows.

Can We Talk About Customer Service?

Back in the day, pulling into a gas station meant more than filling up—it meant being greeted by a friendly attendant who pumped your gas, checked your oil, cleaned your windshield, maybe even topped off your coolant. All for 35 cents a gallon. (Okay, maybe don’t think too hard about the gas prices.) The point is, customer service meant service—and it was personal.

Now, try getting help with your internet bill or cell phone plan. It feels like you’re being punished for calling. They transfer you from one department to another until you forget why you called in the first place—and then try to upsell you while you’re still trying to fix the original problem.

Customer service reps used to be your lifeline. Now they sound like they’re just trying to meet their sales quota.

Driving Each Other Crazy

Let’s shift gears—literally—and talk about what’s happening on the road.

There was a time when driving was more like a cooperative effort. Someone trying to merge? You slowed down and let them in. Someone honked? It was a warning, not a war cry. But these days, people drive like it’s a competitive sport. Heaven forbid you try to enter someone’s lane—they’ll speed up just to block you, like you're trying to cut in front of them at the last supper.

The other day, I was at a four-way stop—clearly with the right-of-way—and another driver came barreling toward the intersection. I honked to alert them before they blew through the stop sign. They slammed the brakes just in time. I hadn’t gone far, so I did the nice thing and waved them ahead. What did I get in return?

The finger.

Nice.

So What’s Going On?

What is everyone so angry about?

Why does it feel like we’re all just barely tolerating each other instead of caring for each other?

Have we been so overworked, overstimulated, and overwhelmed that kindness now feels like a luxury? Or have we just gotten used to the idea that we don’t need each other anymore?

Well, we do.

And deep down, we all know we do.

A Reminder from the Village

There was a time when your neighborhood felt like a village. You didn’t have to be best friends with everyone on the block, but there was a sense of mutual responsibility. You looked out for the kids—even if they weren’t yours. You helped carry groceries for the older neighbor. You brought soup to someone sick, shoveled someone’s snow, or just checked in because you hadn’t seen them in a while.

That wasn’t just courtesy. That was community.

It’s not too late to bring it back.

Let’s Relearn the Basics

A “thank you” won’t change the world—but it might change someone’s mood.

Holding the door won’t cost you a thing—but it may remind someone that kindness still exists.

And when you're tempted to roll your eyes or curse someone out, try smiling instead. It’s contagious. (In a good way.)

We can’t control how everyone else behaves—but we can choose how we move through the world. With decency. With empathy. With the kind of humanity that reminds people that we're in this together.

So the next time you catch someone’s eye on the street—smile. Wave someone ahead at a stop sign. Say please. Say thank you.

Let’s make courtesy cool again. Because the truth is, it never stopped being important. We just forgot.

And it’s time we remembered.

Listen to Lemmy Moore give his take on it here.