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General Message Board>
The Grumpy Older Generation
TheMudge
The Real Mudge
2931 posts
Aug 24, 2008
9:45 PM
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A new essay, Why the Older Generation Is Grumpy, appears now in the Essays and Articles section (subdivision of My Writing). Comments are welcome.
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Rich Turner (The Curmudgeon Himself)
Last Edited on 24-Aug-2008 9:45 PM
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Pogo
568 posts
Aug 26, 2008
7:55 AM
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A lot of this is The Gimme Generation(s). But there is hope! I've been noticing that more and more children are saying "thank you" when I don't drop the library door in their faces. And just last week, I paused at the edge of the sidewalk to allow three boys to pass me on their bicycles and the last and youngest said, "Excuse me, pretty young lady" as he went by. Children are being taught manners again.
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OldGuy
87 posts
Sep 07, 2008
6:25 PM
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Yes, Pogo, it is very pleasant to encounter a young person who does have some manners, consideration for others, and personal pride. Not long ago we bought a new refrigerator from a large chain store. Any major purchase nowadays is something we dread because of typical experiences with products, vendors, and their representatives. But in this case, a young fellow backed the very large delivery truck carefully into our narrow, curved, and tree-lined driveway. He just as carefully measured steps and doorway, then covered the floor with protective material before removing the old box. After the new and larger one was in place, without a mark left anywhere, he carefully leveled it, then made sure his water line connection did not leak and that everything was working properly. He left the kitchen as neat as it was before. But most amazing of all was that this person, who was surely low on the wage scale, was as clean cut, clean shaven, neatly clothed, and politely speaking as if he were in the military. He repeatedly addressed us with “sir” and “ma’am.” Extraordinary!
I stopped back at the store, requested to speak to management, and told them how pleased we were with his work. I think it’s very important that, whenever we encounter such individuals, we go out of our way to put in good words for them that may go toward their encouragement and advancement. They are the kind we hope will be running things down the line and teaching another generation.
Also, business managers should be made to see that, in keeping us as customers, there are more important things than paid advertising. And, speaking as one who was a manager in a difficult-to-please customer serving profession, it makes a caring manager’s day when he finds that the customer who has sought him out has come for praise rather than complaint.
All this should be applied to parents or teachers of well-disciplined children we encounter as well. They should be made to know they have been doing the right thing. It’s a way we can help make things better.
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Pogo
586 posts
Sep 08, 2008
7:46 AM
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Oh, yes. Years ago, I spent a lunch hour writing a letter to a Woolworth's manager to tell him that, because one of the sales clerks had waited on me promptly, in more than one department, I had had time to visit and make a purchase in yet another department. More recently, I let management know that, though I had found no clothing to buy in Craig's the evening before, because the clerk had been so helpful (to the point of taking a jacket off me because it did not suit me!), I would be back to check out the next shipment. A couple days ago, a librarian offered a child a selection out of a little bucket of candy on the counter. The child chose a bag, looked at the librarian, and said, "Thank you." I smiled and nodded at the mother who was standing several feet away.
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TheMudge
The Real Mudge
2966 posts
Sep 08, 2008
10:10 AM
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Comment on Pogo's second example: It's a sad state of affairs indeed when a child's saying "Thank you" is so unusual that it surprises us.
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Rich Turner (The Curmudgeon Himself)
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