Manners in Our Society I used to get annoyed at my father for judging the type of music and television that I liked and not allowing it at home when I was growing up. I have since gained a respect for what my parents were “judging”. Children do not pay attention to actual content and a lot of messages can be slipped into a catchy tune or a popular program. My parents were right these influences do have an effect upon how “kids these days are raising themselves”. Manners have declined due to disrespectful music lyrics, anti-authoritative television programming and parents not paying attention to what influences their children in media

The lyrics in music have gotten more disrespectful as time has gone by. Parents need to pay attention to what their children are really hearing. How have we gone from Louie Armstrong’s, “It’s A Wonderful World” to Twisted Sister’s, “We’re Not Gonna Take It”? When I was growing up in the 1970’s my parents did not approve of music in our home with bad messages, morals and attitudes. Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” was considered demonic and was definitely not played in our home. When I had my own children I understood my parents point of view. I also found myself banning certain music from our atmosphere at home as well. I noticed how much more disrespectful it had gotten from the 1970’s to the 1990’s and 2000’s. Eminem and Dr, Dre for example are not role models I wanted my children idolizing at all. The role models children follow in music and television have a large impact. I was allowed to watch television after homework, chores and playing outside. My parents were also careful when it came to what me and my siblings were allowed to watch on television. My parents took an active role in our viewing habits and when a program showed authority figures in a less than positive light, then they were quick to explain how that was only acceptable on television and not in the real world. My mother and father pointed out The Dukes of Hazzard did not accurately portray how real police were and it was not ok to disregard authority the way Bo and Luke did. It was not appropriate to dress like Daisy did either. I found myself banning programs such as South Park and Beavis and Butthead because in reality that was not how my children should believe kids should act. There is a big difference between The Waltons and the Simpsons. Parenting has a few more challenges with all the media children are exposed to nowadays, since the 1970’s more has been added to be aware of. You never know what is liable to be seen or heard because standards are in decline as well as manners. Parents need to be actively involved with what is influencing the next generation or manners will continue to decline. There are now video games and computers that can have an impact on manners. When I was young my parents did not have to worry about the internet and video games were simple ones like Pong. I watched my grandchildren playing Grand Theft Auto and I was horrified to see how bad manners are rewarded in that game. I nor my parents would have allowed a game in our homes, let alone pay good money to have these manners taught to our children. I have often stated to my parents “when I grow up and have children I won’t be strict like you”, I understand why they would laugh at that because I have laughed at that same statement from my own children Manners may be on the decline in society, but the leverage parents have over their children need not deteriorate also. There is a challenge I see this generation facing where dealing with declining manners are concerned with all that kids are exposed to and have access to. Parents need, now more than ever to be vigilant about what is influencing their children’s minds. The world cannot just be shut out or turned off. They need guidance to discern what good manners are and are not. Music lyrics, television, video games and the internet can and will, without parental circumspection, promote a further decline in our societies manners. Parents can have an impact as well by simply paying attention to what is impacting their children’s manners