Posted By The Nude Nerd on October 28, 2009

So today, Klutzy Shutterbug and I went to Olive Garden for dinner, as we were out at the mall shopping on that side of town anyways. I’m not normally a big OG fan, but the last couple times we’ve gone my meal has been extremely good. Tonight was no exception, I had the Mixed Grill plate and the meat was exquisite. That being said, one glaring thing ruined the majority of our meal.

The couple seated behind me was having a conversation – but not your normal run of the mill conversation. They were holding their conversation – a bit loudly – over their “walkie-talkie” cell phones. You know, the ones that Nextel promoted for so long, that beep at you, then someone else’s voice comes out loudly through the speakers? Well, this couple who looked to be a mother & son, were holding conversations with someone on the other end and we could hear the entire thing. I’m fairly certain I could easily repeat just about their entire convo. Something about someone joining the Army… blah blah blah.

Anyways, it really got us to talking about how the world around us has changed so much over the past 20 years. I ask you, fair reader – Where has the common courtesy gone? These people seated just behind us had to know that others could overhear them – those phones are annoyingly loud. Not to mention the fact that I turned completely around in my chair to look at them a couple times – of course, this got totally ignored by either of them. The only reason I decided not to cause a bit of a scene was I really didn’t want to embarrass my wife. Seriously though, I know Olive Garden isn’t really “fine dining”, but I’d consider it a bit of an upscale restaurant compared to most in the area. I’d expect something like this in Golden Corral.

Something else very similar happened just last Friday. We went to see the movie Law Abiding Citizen (good action flick btw), at 10pm. You would think such a late showing, a week after the movie came out, would cut down on the number of younger children in the theater. Not to mention the R rating… you would think (again) that this would cut down on those under the age of 10. You’d be wrong. Oh and let us not forget the wonderful invention known as cell phones. Seriously people – they repeatedly ask you to turn them off – so why then, do we see your glaringly bright cell phone screen DURING THE MOVIE? Is it that damn important to send a text message, are you so worried about missing that so ever so important message that you just can’t sit down for 90 – 120 minutes without looking at your cell phone? Klutzy Shutterbug was complaining throughout the entire movie about a woman about 3 rows ahead of us that was constantly on her cell phone. Have some respect for those around you… if it’s that damn important, step outside! This is the point where I really just have to say THANK GOD for Netflix. It’s getting to the point I’d rather not pay for a movie that is going to be ruined by the people that are apparently super important – I mean obviously they are going to prevent World War III by sending a text message while watching a movie.

Another story to relate – this one is a tad older, but glares bright in my mind as a perfect example of how this trend is being passed on to children. Klutzy and I were having dinner at a wonderful place already mentioned – Golden Corral. Now, mind you, I don’t go into this establishment expecting uppity, higher class citizens or fine china. Far from it… but what happened on this evening just blew my mind. We had both eaten our fill of the food from the serve-yourself bar… so I decided I’d like a little machine-made fake ice cream. I got up, moseyed my way over to the big silver machine… and just as I placed my small bowl under the dripping milk – only to feel a push against my leg. I look down to see two young children (I’d estimate between 4-6 yrs old) pushing their way through me to get their bowls under the same machine I was about to use. Being the type of guy I am, I step back… and look around, expecting to see an adult that would chastise the kids for their behavior. No grown-up is in viewing distance, so I watch entranced as both of these little evil-doers try their best to dispense the ice cream into their bowls. A waitress walking by sees them struggling and asks where their parents are. The little devil children by this point are frustrated and are starting to whine (loudly), so the waitress helps them fill their bowls and they run off screaming… to the front register, where their mother is apparently still paying for their meals. One thing I should point out here… Golden Corral is a buffet, so you pay before you eat. Meaning these little bastards hadn’t even eaten any normal food, and already they had ice cream (which they were currently dripping all over). The mother never once said a word to them, she just picked up her tray and found a table.

I remember from a very early age, as I grew up, my parents and even those adults that were simply around me would discipline me for various things. Back in those days (and I’m only 30), it was not unheard of for me to get a stern word spoken, a slap on the butt, or a threat of what I would get when we got home. God forbid if I was to do something like these kids did that evening – my father would have surely ripped me a new one. But it wasn’t just my father – any adult that was a friend of the family was allowed to discipline me if I was acting up. Hell, one of my introductions to my step-father in my teenage years was getting my hand “forked” for reaching across the table.

Anyways, I really have to wonder what has our society degenerated into when common courtesy is no longer used in today’s world. Where are the gentlemen that open a door for a lady (and not just on a date, not that this happens anymore either)? What happened to the grown adults that actually discipline their child for acting like idiots in public? Why do people have no respect for those around them? How did we let our society get to this point, that a little respect for your fellow human beings is looked down upon by the majority?

Hell, maybe we should dust off the old books that were used in school in the old days to teach a woman how to “act like a lady”, update them for the times and make them a requirement for every student in every grade. LOL, sorry I found this pic and just couldn’t resist including it.

Feel free to share your own stories.

Categories: Blogging, Random, Rants
Tags: Blogging, Common Courtesy, Random, Rants