Grumpy old men…
‘The young people of today love luxury; they have bad manners; they scoff at authority and lack respect for their elders; they contradict their parents...’

Harsh words, indeed – but here’s the surprise: this is not the complaint of an ill-tempered bank manager or even a grouchy pensioner, but the words of the Greek philosopher Socrates, written over 2,000 years ago. They suggest that throughout history, young people have challenged what their elders deem acceptable behaviour – and that older people find that a problem.

Unsung heroes
The reality is that it is often difficult for young people to have a genuine voice in society. Many of the institutions that influence our lives – the media, politics, business – tend to ignore, criticise or, worse, patronise younger ‘citizens’, whilst stressing the need for them to respect society’s official and unofficial rules and regulations.

Dr Hugh Starkey of the University of London’s Institute for Education says: ‘Young people are frequently presented as citizens-in-waiting, not citizens in their own right and so they are seen as lacking equal status [with older people and those in authority].’

Ironically, while today’s youth is often portrayed as threatening yet politically apathetic, time and again it is young people who are sufficiently concerned – about poverty, injustice, world hunger, homelessness and many other issues – to do something about it. From the Live Aid concert in 1985 to the Live 8 concert in 2005, and from local environmental groups to Voluntary Service Overseas, thousands of young people in the UK show their commitment to helping and treating others with respect.

o age limit on manners
Anthea, 19, student, feels manners are definitely important: ‘There’s no reason not to be well mannered: it makes life more pleasant. It’s common sense really, but everyone’s in a rush these days and politeness is sometimes forgotten.’  

In her part-time job as a waitress, Anthea sees a lot of good – and, occasionally, some bad - manners: ‘Older people can be just as rude as anyone else – particularly businessmen who think their suits and wealth are a substitute for politeness. Younger customers are almost always nice to me and to each other, even though they may look pretty wild and different.’

So let’s hear it for young people and their good manners.

Jim
July/August 2006

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