The Appalling Lack of Manners in Today's Youth: A Lament from a Concerned Gen Xer

As I sit here, sipping my morning coffee and scrolling through the latest news, I can't help but shake my head in utter dismay at the state of the younger generation. Where, oh where, have all the good manners gone? When I was growing up, we had a deep respect for our elders, we said "please" and "thank you" without a second thought, and we certainly didn't have our noses buried in our phones 24/7. But this new generation, Generation Z as they call them, they're a different breed altogether.

It seems like common courtesy and consideration for others are foreign concepts to these young people. I've witnessed countless incidents that have left me positively scandalized. At the grocery store, I've seen teenagers barrel through crowded aisles, shoving past unsuspecting shoppers without a murmur of "excuse me." And don't even get me started on their table manners – shoveling food into their mouths, talking with their mouths full, and acting as if they were raised in a barn.

The lack of basic etiquette is truly mind-boggling. When I was their age, we would have jumped up to greet a guest, shaken their hand firmly, and expressed genuine enthusiasm at their arrival. But these Gen Z-ers? They'll barely even look up from their phones to acknowledge another human being's presence. It's as if they've been raised to believe that the world revolves around them and their digital devices.

I can't help but wonder, where did we go wrong as a society? Was it the overindulgence of participation trophies and constant coddling that has led to this sense of entitlement? Or is it simply a byproduct of this new age of technology, where people are more comfortable interacting with a screen than with another human being? Whatever the reason, it's clear to me that basic manners are a dying art, and it's high time we did something about it.

I know I'm probably just an old curmudgeon, shaking my fist and lamenting the good old days. But mark my words, if we don't instill a sense of respect and consideration in these young people, we're going to end up with a generation of rude, self-absorbed brats. And frankly, I shudder to think what the world will be like when they're the ones running the show.

So, to all you Gen Z-ers out there, listen up. Put down your phones, look up from your screens, and remember your manners. Say "please" and "thank you," hold the door for others, and for goodness sake, chew with your mouths closed! Trust me, your elders will appreciate it, and you might just learn a thing or two in the process. The future of our society may very well depend on it.