Bad manners

I'm often shocked at the lack of manners people show. As a Southern girl, I was raised to say Yes Maam, No Sir, thank you, etc.

I was taught to put a napkin in my lap at dinner, sit up straight, don't talk with your mouth full and to be respectful of others.

Tonight, I'm sitting in Panera and writing. My dear husband took over the child-rearing for the evening so I could get some work done without refereeing arguments or grabbing juiceboxes. But, I'm so disgusted that I wrapped up my work and was ready to leave before I decided to get out the soapbox.

Three college students (presumably) are sitting across from me. They are talking so loudly (another no-no in the rules I was taught) in the restaurant that I have heard every word they said. They are about 10 feet away from me, too, to give you an idea of how loud they are. One Napolean Dynamite dork got a speeding ticket. I can understand being irritated and bummed and while I am known to spew forth some obscenities from time to time, I try to keep them muted from the general public. That whole manners thing and all.

So, after he continued to issue forth one curse word after another, then he let out a loud belch. Now, let me add that his girlfriend is sitting next to him. She didn't even flinch when he belched and didn't pardon himself. Let me also add that shese students are well dressed enough not to be trailer trash either.

Eww. Just looked up and the dude sitting across from the ticket-getting geek and his girlfriend just stuck his finger into the girl's bowl of soup to taste it. Again, no one flinched except me.

To quote the maitre'd in Ferris Bueller's Day Off : I weep for the future.