Manners Are Increasingly Becoming Scarce in The Modern World

The world all over continues to witness rude public behavior exhibited in many places. The people talking behind one as he or she tries to concentrate. The stranger who shuts a door in our face. The driver, who steals our parking space. Loud public cell phone conversations, one thereby concluding as to whether people know how to act in public any longer. Such manners of late are the order of the day. Irrespective the levels of education and ones stature, there is an erosion of manners. It is being seen in the children, youths and adults.

To begin with it is important to understand the word manners. A subtle distinction exists between manner and manners. The first is often inherited; it is made up of innumerable little peculiarities that belong to the race and the family. Manners have to do with our daily conduct. Manners are an expression of our inner character such as to be respectful, kind, considerate and honest, are the principles that form the basis of good manners.

Etiquette becomes central in the language of manners. It tells us what is appropriate and are more than knowing table manners. Etiquette refers to the rules, the guiding codes, of socially acceptable behavior, that enables us to practice good manners. The Laws of Etiquette, published in 1883, defines etiquette as, “a code of laws established by society for its protection against rudeness, and other offences, which the civil law cannot reach”. It goes on to say that the civil law cannot punish a man for discourteous behavior, but society can cause him to change his manners by refusing to recognize him. If etiquette refers to the rules of socially accepted behavior, manners relate to how we handle the rules and the situations they apply to. Good manners may even tell us to disregard the rules in order to put others at ease.

Thus with the above, the introduction and application of basic etiquette or social protocol elements in addressing decaying manners becomes imperative. It is of extreme importance in regulating behavior and conduct. Protocol encompasses etiquettes and good behaviours, it is a set of rules socially acceptable. It is at local, national and international levels. The introduction of protocol elements in companies and state administration and reminding each in social setting is a solution to decaying mannerism.

In company for instance, emphasis should be made on communication, forms of addressing, use of language and appropriate conservations. Even during events there is need for mindfulness of body language and dress codes. Society where we all belong is one window where sometimes differences in culture and other backgrounds may come into conflict. However socially and universally acceptable manners must be adopted and recognized so as not to raise offence. Conventional behaviours which is done all the time must supersede and be acceptable as opposed to contextual. Faux pax incidences can be overcome once universally acceptable standards are applied just as it is applied in the gold rule of doing unto others as you would like them to do to you.

From such manners world accepted if applied can redeem the decaying of mannerism.