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A plague of incivility “You’d think that boy was raised in a barn!” my mother would often exclaim when she saw someone exhibiting minor uncivil behaviors. These “incivilities” may not always rise to the level of obnoxiousness, but they are still irritating enough to gain notice and to cost bystanders some level of comfort. On opening day of the “Iron Man” movie, my wife and I attended the 4 p.m. showing in Newnan, Ga. We figured that fewer small children would be present and it would be easy to find a seat. We were half right. There weren’t many children, but the theater was packed with adults of all ages. My wife and I both turned off our cell phones prior to the beginning of the movie. Others weren’t so considerate. To be fair, most people did put their phone on vibrate but every time someone checked on a call, the phone screen lit up like an out of control nuclear reactor. All over the building, adults who should know better were opening their phones, drawing the attention of patrons away from the screen, and, evidently, were checking emails or texting someone. One person a few rows in front of me had his phone lit up like a searchlight for nearly the entire movie. A small incivility, true, but one that lessened the enjoyment of the movie for others. On Monday, I was at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport looking for a seat at Gate 16 on Concourse C. There were plenty of seats available — at least there would have been if some people hadn’t spread their stuff and their bodies over multiple empty seats. Across from me was a woman who was lying down and taking up three entire seats. One lady down the row sat down and put her purse in the empty seat on her right and her carry-on in the seat on her left. These two people, evidently raised in a barn, took up six seats. Then there were the multiple folks who took up two seats, one for their fanny, and another for their stuff. Two people, waiting on their flight, a man and a woman who did not appear to know each other, had to sit on the floor — seats all around them, but unavailable because of the self-centeredness of other flyers. There are other examples of incivility that abound in society. Some of those include: 1. People in public places who use profanity wantonly, oblivious to the people, including children, whose sensibilities they assault and whose ears they pollute. 2. People who turn up the volume in their car radios to seven million decibels. I don’t care if it’s rap, hip hop, classical, country, rock, pop, or gospel, if I am in my car with the windows rolled up and the music from the car near me make my liver undulate, it’s too loud! 3. Smokers who toss their butts anywhere except into a proper receptacle. What, you think that tossing a cigarette butt on to a road, into someone’s yard, or ground out on a pavement isn’t littering? It’s not just uncivil, it’s illegal! 4. People who don’t stand for the National Anthem and come to silence. Baseball season is here and football season is around the corner. In America, people who weren’t raised in a barn, when the music plays, stand to their feet (I have seen crippled veterans make an attempt to stand from their wheelchair), take off their cap or hat, put their hand over their heart, and either sing or remain silent. There are warriors in the stands who fought and bled under that banner and they, and the flag they served, deserve respect. Quit talking, stand up, and be civil. 5. People who don’t say “please” or “thank you” or “sir” or “ma’am.” I am 57 years old and I still use these words when talking to the 19-year-old server at a fast food restaurant. My parents, were they alive, would be scandalized if I did otherwise. I realize that incivility is rampant and that millions of people were, apparently, raised in a barn. Still, it would be nice if, once in a while, we remember that we are not the center of attention, it isn’t all just about us, and that there really are other people who are affected by our behavior — whether civil or otherwise. Oh, and parents (unless your kids really were raised in a barn), do them a favor and teach them civility. They will be better people and the rest of us will be forever grateful. login to post comments | Father David Epps's blog
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