I agree with the posts so far. Both/all sides. Times change. Do I like the changes, no. Am I over it, I would say yes! I would have a problem if I had children and/or grandchildren, I am sure.

When I was a youngster, as I recall, my Grandfather complained continually about how disrespectful we were (i.e. considered leaving the dinner table before HE was finished, leaving the table without asking to be excused, we had the nerve to sit with our elbows on the table until corrected by HIM, blah blah blah) and how spoiled we were! I still watch my table manners as a result of him being to strict. I don't regret his strictness now. Comparing my upbringing to many children's today, the complaining continues by many about the previous generation. Different complaints, but complaints about how lax society seems to be. Will it ever end? Who knows. Times change. I call it "the old person syndrome"..... Now it is our turn to feel the change. I suspect it will happen to each generation, as time passes.

I think that if the economy takes years to recover, we will see a bit of a change to the positive - taking many folks to a humble level again. I think some people have become "too full of themselves".... and pass that on to their children. I hate to see people suffer and I hate to suffer myself, but I think the wind will be taken out of a few sails over the next few years. Maybe some true appreciation of kind acts from and with neighbors, friends, relatives may come in to play as well. I have hope that being polite comes back in to fashion. Even "please and thank you" would make such differences in exchanges!

As far as bratty kids go, I have seen my share of them and I do think the parents are not doing the children any favors by letting them continue with the awful behavior. Fortunately, not all parents rear their children with their ears and eyes closed. I would agree that the percentages are not good when it comes to manners/behavior in public. It certainly is an attention getter, when the children act out, but since they are not my children, I let the parents accept all the positive and negative .....

Change is difficult, but inevitable.