Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 14:03:18 -0500

From: Greg Pulliam gpulliam[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CHARLIE.CNS.IIT.EDU

Subject: Re: the world is going to the currs



I think what a lot of folks see as a politeness decline has more to do with

a change in so-called "developed" societies. With the information age so

much upon us (cable/satellite tv, internet, etc.), we are more and more

able to be 'alone' in our homes and yet not feel out of touch. On our

overcrowded highways and streets, we are 'alone' in our cars.



It is not really surprising that conventions which developed over many

years to help us negotiate interpersonally with each other might atrophy

somewhat in our current situtation.



I'm with Ron,though, in refusing to see change as decline. Things are

changing, and we can grow older and more resentful and crotchety because of

it, or we can be more like those "cool" "older" folks all of us knew when

we were very young--the ones who didn't automatically reject our speech,

ways, and interests just because ours were different from theirs--and (no

apologies to Nissan) enjoy the ride.





Gregory J. Pulliam

Illinois Institute of Technology

Lewis Department of Humanities

Chicago, IL 60616

gpulliam[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]charlie.cns.iit.edu