The New York Times features articles ranging from news stories to longer features in their weekly magazine covers. The magazine section covers politics, the latest fashion trends, and even articles like “The Age of Rudeness,” by Rachel Cusk. This article discusses our social code and raises questions like ‘how is this social code defined,’ as well as ‘what is “rude?”’
Rudeness can be seen online, in human mannerisms, and in verbal or written communications. With each passing year, some say they see rudeness changing as well.
“Rude” is sometimes equated with being mean, blowing someone off, using foul language, or talking back. However, some people see being rude as much more than those simple things.
In Cusk’s article, she recounts an encounter with an airport security officer. She notices the way he looks, dresses, and acts. However, she comes to the following realization. She writes, “I find myself relying on the details of the man’s physical ugliness to prove the badness of his character. Searching for a specific example of someone else’s being upset or offended by him, the only person I can prove he offended was me.” This brings up the question of “can rude be in our heads, or is it always in the actions of the other person?”
“Rudeness isn’t necessarily more prevalent in society today, but it’s definitely different kinds of rudeness. It’s the little things now, like eating at the table with your phone out and not talking to others that are qualified as rude. I think the definition of rudeness has certainly changed in recent years, though I don’t think the amount has changed. It’s not that more people are rude. People just are now rude in more ways than one,” NHS senior Dylan Lew said.
This also raises the question of whether or not people are intentionally rude. Some believe that rudeness is purposeful. Is it that with every harsh word or cutting glare, a person is knowingly rude? Or is it human nature to be rude? Where is the line drawn?
“I would say that rude is similar to being inconsiderate and unkind. It’s not necessarily a conscious or malicious act, rather it’s just mannerisms or behaviors that do not keep the well-being of others in mind,” NHS senior Simran Chand said.
With our constantly growing, changing, and developing society, social media has the possibility of becoming another place that breeds rudeness. However, Chand says that she sees online rudeness as typically unintended, be it failing to respond to a text message or a Facebook comment.
Rudeness can spur from culture of where one lives or even of how one is raised. Southern women hold a stereotype of being “Southern Belles,” whereas New Yorkers are sometimes stereotyped to be rude and self-centered. In a country with so much constantly going on in the news, these stereotypes may become apparent to people.
Lauryn Casey, a resident of Argyle, Texas and a senior in high school, noticed this difference when she spent this past summer in New York City.
“To me, a main difference between the North and the South is the diversity between ideas/ideals. In Texas, most everyone believes the same thing, thinks the same thing, goes to the same places, knows the same people. But I noticed in New York that there were new ideas and nobody was afraid to voice them. This definitely affects how people’s manners appear. In Texas, everyone tries to always be super polite to the extent of not ever disagreeing or challenging someone unless they’re asked to. I’m not saying people in the North are inherently ruder, but they seemed to be more outgoing and open to new ideas and debates,” Casey said.
Despite geography, Cusk’s article touches on basic human interaction, especially given our increasingly tense society. Today, a simple trip to the coffee shop could end up in a quarrel.
Image Courtesy of Dr. Alan Zimmerman