Originally Posted by ontheriver
I don't know if it makes a difference because I live in rural Alabama and but I meet very few people, children included that do not use yes mame, no mame when speaking to you or please and thankyou. Adults even address people this way if they suspect you are even a day older than them. Everyone is very friendly and polite. They don't dare let their momma hear otherwise. Even friends will use a miss or mr in front of a person's first name, like Miss Julie, or Mr. Wayne.
I don't think it matters where you are from- most people I deal with ARE polite. I do volunteer work and meet people from all walks of life. The rudeness i do encouter crosses generations, not just a youth thing.
Recently two of my younger DDs went with me to a quilt show. when we left their comment was"everyone complains about how rude kids are-The adults here are the rudest we've ever seen. They pushed us out of the way, ran into us with their scooters and didn't even say excuse me".