...where Civic Consciousness has gone to.

I witness an incredulous thing, in a bad sense, today.

A man, after pumping petrol, went to the counter to sign for his credit card payment. While there, he wiped each of his fingers using the first page of a brand new newspaper. The unfortunate newspaper happened to be the first among a stack of newspaper given out for free.

No harm done, some of you may say. True in a sense but if you give careful thought, harm has already begun. This is what our society has become. Civic mindedness has left together with the Ps and Qs.

We have adjusted to living in a era where people are amaze by Gentlemanliness and Politeness and Manners and Courtesy. Less than a century ago, it was the other way round where Rudeness and Selfishness brought shock and gaping mouths.

All I could do was stare (but trying not to be obvious that I was staring) because the fear of reprimanding him will put a handprint on my face. The only thing I could do safely was exchange glances with the cashier.

I'm not asking for gentlemen to open doors for ladies or even for a whispered thanks when I open doors for others. Just some pleasantries in life from others would be nice, isn't it?