tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210602.post352059209471309257..comments2024-03-25T18:01:05.147-05:00Comments on A Shroud of Thoughts: The Decline of CivlityTerence Towles Canotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397088843628331615noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210602.post-35555914297252765162009-09-17T13:07:49.750-05:002009-09-17T13:07:49.750-05:00I think we are all becoming very self-absorbed. Th...I think we are all becoming very self-absorbed. This is an excellent article on the real problem with this Joe Wilson buffoon, and Jimmy Carter is just distracting us from the debate. Though perhaps Mr. Wilson wouldn't breach decorum if it had been Bill Clinton up there. I doubt it.<br /><br />I was at a play in NYC last night and while people were mostly quiet during it- It was Othello, with a spin on the Sotomayor hearings- some older woman were making loud reactions. A tsk here, a chuckle there. I wonder if she had Tourette's. In the atrium, people were absorbed in their cell phones, playbills, and imaginations, bumping into you if you weren't looking, and wandering like zombies.<br /><br />Rudeness is something I never tolerate, but discourtesy and self-absorption are increasingly common in American society. It infuriates me that people suggesting we return to "old fashioned values" don't even know how to be civil.Thomas Pluckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17008022962076648740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210602.post-35216811217500781912009-09-15T20:14:02.197-05:002009-09-15T20:14:02.197-05:00I think you may be right, Holte. A lot of the loss...I think you may be right, Holte. A lot of the loss of civility of late could be due to the internet. After all, one can be fairly anonymous online and say what one pleases, regardless of whether it is rude. It could be that some people are simply letting their behaviour on the net be a part of their daily life in the real world as well!<br /><br />Raquelle, I have to admit in some ways one does have to take the incident in Congress with a grain of salt. As I said, at least in the States people have been rude at political gatherings from the beginning. And I must admit, that like you, I like the idea of being passionate about what they believe in. Ultimately, however, I think that one can be passionate without being rude. In fact, while politics is the one sphere of life where rudeness has been tolerated to some degree or another, I have to wonder if it isn't the sphere of life where civility isn't needed most. I mean, too often harsh words simply hinders debates of important topics.Terence Towles Canotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18397088843628331615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210602.post-41308683009450806772009-09-15T09:54:12.267-05:002009-09-15T09:54:12.267-05:00I agree with the fact that there is a decline in c...I agree with the fact that there is a decline in civility in the United States. But I think I took this incident with a big grain of salt because of something I saw a couple of years ago. I think it was Prime Minister Tony Blair was in Parliament and the discussion was centered around UK's involvement in the war in Iraq and the progress of that war. Tony Blair was defending himself and people were shouting, hissing, booing and interupting him the whole time. From what I understand, this is pretty standard especially when the discussion is a pretty heated one.<br /><br />I was fascinated by this! These people were throwing their hearts and souls into the matter and weren't afraid to shout. While civility is admirable, I think showing one's passion is also admirable.<br /><br />I'm not disagreeing with you but I think it's interesting to see the other side of this too. Especially since America still has the reputation (in Europe for sure) of being a bit puritan and stuck up.Raquel Stecherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02687110907002450794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210602.post-41072749036585841192009-09-15T07:07:16.341-05:002009-09-15T07:07:16.341-05:00The first place I lived in the United States, was ...The first place I lived in the United States, was Northwest Missouri and I was shocked how nice people were to each other. I had never been called "Sir" so many times in my life. After a short time I was "Sir-ing" and "Maam-ing" just like the locals.<br /><br />I believe part of the reason for the loss of civility is the Internet. So many things can be said in anonymity, your internet name and mine are probably made up, well mine is, and I must admit I am a little guilty of disrespect to public figures, but I can honestly say, if I ever met them in real life, I would draw on my Missouri roots, and I would give them the respect I do not give them on my blog.Holte Enderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356437917387847542noreply@blogger.com