Manners cost nothing

✒ SOME young people seem imprisoned in a world of their own making and oblivious to other peo- ple and the world around them. And some have lost – or have never had – basic manners.

Recently at Clifton Down Shopping Centre I was sitting on a bench, resting after shopping. A young lady with glasses, a blue hat, a scarf and headphones on spoke to me, unclearly. I had to ask her to repeat what she had said. She wanted to use the shopping centre’s plug and electricity to recharge her phone, and she wanted me to move along the bench so she could sit near it.

She never said, “Excuse me”, or “Please”.

Being more sociable and community-minded, although I was quite comfortable and warm where I was sitting, I moved. She charged her phone, staying in her “bubble world” of headphones and messages all along.

It was colder on the new spot on the bench as I was exposed to the wind.

Her phone charged, she unplugged and got up and left. She never said thank you or made any eye contact. No short wave of gratitude. Just stuck in a headphone and mobile phone bubble.

Some young people need to learn basic civility and courtesy. There is no need to coarsen interactions with strangers. The simple graces of ‘Excuse me’, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ cost nothing but add value to all.

O tempora! O mores!

Andy Newman

Bristol