"Chivalry isn't dead...it's just not expected." That's what comedian Steve Harvey said on Oprah last week. He was talking about dating but is this the case in everyday life?!? How can we spread the word that common courtesy (by men and women) isn't dead, it just needs a little mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?
Let's talk about the lack of common stinking courtesy on public transportation these days. This morning I witnessed an elderly woman stand for nearly 4 blocks on a crowded Chicago bus because NO ONE would give up their seat for her. DARN SHAME I tell you, a darn shame! Gender goes out the #20 bus window when it comes to respecting our elders. 7 out of the 9 seats reserved for the physically disabled were occupied by people who didn't appear to have a disability; they looked like able-bodied men and women between the ages of 14-45. Ok...I must admit that I'm guilty of sitting in the "priority area" at the front of the bus, but only when it's nearly EMPTY.
Unfortunately I was in the back of the bus and couldn't offer my seat but it took everything ounce of strength in my body not to yell "what's wrong with you people, don't you see the elderly lady needs a seat?!?" After 4 stops a young high school girl looked up from texting away on her cell phone and immediately offered the elderly woman her seat. The girl had common courtesy and I'm sure would be furious (as I was) if an able-bodied person didn't give up their seat for her grandmother, or anyone else's grandmother for that matter.
You may not want to think about it but if you're lucky, in X number of years...you'll be elderly too. Wouldn't the elderly YOU want a seat?
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Unfortunately while the shift of a lot of interaction going online has some great benefits, it also has pitfalls. One of those is the lack of courtesy from less interactions, less manners, and less tolerance and patience overall. Hopefully we can balance the two and become more technologically advanced, but still keep our values!
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