The Top 40

I guess Uncle Ro Ro isn't old enough to remember the latter '50s and '60s when anti-social behavior was suddenly glorified as "authentic," starting with Elvis Presley being marketed like cheap beer under the label "Countercultural" (because he annoys your parents, donchaknow...)

Starting right in there, generations of American middle-class kids were carefully taught that black folks would like 'em better if they acted like punks. And here we are.

This phenomenon may be part of society's and culture's increasing acceptance (promotion, really) of narcissism.

Especially among the young, I no long hear "You're Welcome" but, rather, "No Problem".

The former is an expression by the speaker acknowledging the value of the person they're addressing.

The latter is purely narcissistic, i.e., "no problem... for me".

Rudeness is correctable by the injection of minerals cranially at near or above the speed of sound. One application is all that is necessary. If applied to an individual in a group setting, the application has a salutatory effect on the group.

aluminum bat

I like the sound it makes as bone yields .

I'll ad, that the rudeness factor is diminished here in Ruralville where everybody knows everybody else. It hasn't vanished, just diminished. Last month I bought a $400 chain saw at the hardware store and thanked the owners 20 yo son for helping me out. He said, "No problem." He wears earrings. I left and went to Speedway for a cup o' mud and held the door for a woman and she said thank you. So it balanced out I guess. But not really. For 4 C notes I got a no problem, for a free door opening I got a thanks. This world is upside down.