ChatterBank22 mins ago
Standards
14 Answers
Whenever somebody starts a thread on the lowering of standards covering items such as manners, spelling, behaviour, speaking etc, invariably somebody else will add to the thread and say in effect that standards don't matter and "get a life". Can anybody tell me why they think standards are no longer important ?
Have we, as a nation, become so intolerant in our attitudes that what happened last week will not only happen again but with increased frequency ?
Have we, as a nation, become so intolerant in our attitudes that what happened last week will not only happen again but with increased frequency ?
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Seems like it with your last statement vulcan, people seem oblivious to most things unless they are affected by it. Standards have really dropped and to a lot of people it matters, but I think with the media brought close to home in our living rooms from far and wide, a lot of people are desensitised (sp?) and mostly they really don't care what goes on around them.
depends on the context, it's not an EngLang exam, we are just bashing out replies on a net thread. Typos creep in, people get berated for diverting the discussion to point out some minor grammatical error. Note I haven't bothered to point out your grammatical errors in this question because it is irrelevant. Standards do matter, we just need to get it in perspective.
I think the problem is many people are not intolerant of others, they just don't consider them, not even as an annoyance.
The only important aspect of their lives is themselves. They want, so they will take. Illegally downloading music and films is considered the norm. They want respect so they demand it, instead of earning it, yet respect nothing or nobody.
No please or thank you, because whatever they receive they consider they are entitled to.
Totally self absorbed. A lot of kids are like that at 13 to 15 years old but mature in to rounded adults. For some reason that isn't happening with a minority.
People know their rights, and demand them, but don't accept their responsibilities. There has been little or no consequence of bad behaviour or attitude.
Shows like Jeremy Kyle normalises quite abhorrent behaviour, not only those who participate in the show but also the audience who consider it fine to jeer at others who are inadequate.
I don't know the reasons, or the answers. I firmly believe the vast majority of people are decent, reasonable and respectable and would rather help somebody out than rob them when they are down.
The only important aspect of their lives is themselves. They want, so they will take. Illegally downloading music and films is considered the norm. They want respect so they demand it, instead of earning it, yet respect nothing or nobody.
No please or thank you, because whatever they receive they consider they are entitled to.
Totally self absorbed. A lot of kids are like that at 13 to 15 years old but mature in to rounded adults. For some reason that isn't happening with a minority.
People know their rights, and demand them, but don't accept their responsibilities. There has been little or no consequence of bad behaviour or attitude.
Shows like Jeremy Kyle normalises quite abhorrent behaviour, not only those who participate in the show but also the audience who consider it fine to jeer at others who are inadequate.
I don't know the reasons, or the answers. I firmly believe the vast majority of people are decent, reasonable and respectable and would rather help somebody out than rob them when they are down.
This reminded me of a discussion I had with my mum earlier. Tomorrow I have a meeting at the job centre about signing on and for some reason i'm getting really nervous, as if it were an actual job interview. I'm worrying about what to wear and what to say and my mum reminds me about the majority of other people that go. She just told me to go in my jeans and hoodie so that I blend in! haha
For far too long (e.g. in the first half of the 20th century) everybody simply accepted lots of 'rules' just because 'that's the way that things are done'. At last, in the 1960s, people finally started asking the question "Why?".
For example, people started thinking "I know that the 'right' way (according to 'convention') to use my fork is with the tines pointing downwards, but why can't I use it the other way up to eat peas?".
At the same time, schools (thankfully) started encouraging young people to CHALLENGE rules and conventions (by asking that all-important question 'Why?).
As a result, a lot of 'rules' have largely been forgotten about. (I couldn't care less if someone uses their fork the 'wrong' way up, or if they sit with their elbows on the table).
Inevitably, the challenging of 'rules' and 'conventions' has resulted in divisions between those who wish to retain such rules and conventions, and those who decide to ignore them.
Some extremely intelligent people (e.g. Stephen Fry) can see nothing wrong with the use of '4 letter words'. (I tend to agree but I still hope that people are aware of the conventions against such use, so that, for example, they can conduct themselves properly in job interviews). Others. however, see the increasing use of those words as 'a lowering of standards'.
My own frustration is not with people who DECIDE not to adhere to accepted rules with regard to spelling, speaking, etc. What worries me is when they don't even KNOW what the accepted conventions are. (If they don't even know the 'rules', how can they possibly CHOOSE whether to adhere to them or not?).
For example, people started thinking "I know that the 'right' way (according to 'convention') to use my fork is with the tines pointing downwards, but why can't I use it the other way up to eat peas?".
At the same time, schools (thankfully) started encouraging young people to CHALLENGE rules and conventions (by asking that all-important question 'Why?).
As a result, a lot of 'rules' have largely been forgotten about. (I couldn't care less if someone uses their fork the 'wrong' way up, or if they sit with their elbows on the table).
Inevitably, the challenging of 'rules' and 'conventions' has resulted in divisions between those who wish to retain such rules and conventions, and those who decide to ignore them.
Some extremely intelligent people (e.g. Stephen Fry) can see nothing wrong with the use of '4 letter words'. (I tend to agree but I still hope that people are aware of the conventions against such use, so that, for example, they can conduct themselves properly in job interviews). Others. however, see the increasing use of those words as 'a lowering of standards'.
My own frustration is not with people who DECIDE not to adhere to accepted rules with regard to spelling, speaking, etc. What worries me is when they don't even KNOW what the accepted conventions are. (If they don't even know the 'rules', how can they possibly CHOOSE whether to adhere to them or not?).
A few responses to what has been written above:
>>>"They want respect so they demand it, instead of earning it"<<<
I spent 15 years teaching and I recognise that statement, which applied to a great number of 'old school' TEACHERS, rather to the vast majority of the students.
>>>"Shows like Jeremy Kyle normalises quite abhorrent behaviour"<<<
Surely nobody would ever watch a programme about 'normal' behaviour?
>>>"They want respect so they demand it, instead of earning it"<<<
I spent 15 years teaching and I recognise that statement, which applied to a great number of 'old school' TEACHERS, rather to the vast majority of the students.
>>>"Shows like Jeremy Kyle normalises quite abhorrent behaviour"<<<
Surely nobody would ever watch a programme about 'normal' behaviour?
A few years ago, a newspaper columnist came up with the phrase, "oxen people", which is one I have used myself here on AnswerBank before. It refers to the people who have all the social awareness of a bovine.
For example, I refer to the person you step away from the bar for so that he can get his drink who then just stays there...the pair who stop at the top of an escalator to chat about where they are going next...the person approaching you along the pavement who, rather than hover briefly, dives across you and into a shop.
These are the people who don't just ignore you, they seem oblivious to the fact that you even exist.
"Manners makyth man", as William of Wykeham said in the 14th century, and they should still do, even today. They are part of what distinguishes us from cattle, after all.
For example, I refer to the person you step away from the bar for so that he can get his drink who then just stays there...the pair who stop at the top of an escalator to chat about where they are going next...the person approaching you along the pavement who, rather than hover briefly, dives across you and into a shop.
These are the people who don't just ignore you, they seem oblivious to the fact that you even exist.
"Manners makyth man", as William of Wykeham said in the 14th century, and they should still do, even today. They are part of what distinguishes us from cattle, after all.
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