Common courtesy is dead. Despite your age, you may have noticed that people’s manners simply aren’t what they used to be. We don’t mind our P’s and Q’s, we don’t respect our elders, and we are under the impression that being a kind and decent human being costs something. We know the good habits our parents and/or guardians instilled in us, yet we make the conscious choice not to apply them. Here are some not so common courtesies in this day-and-age:
1. Taking hats off during the National Anthem.
This is a simple task yet so many people fail at doing it. Stand up, take your hat off, and place your right hand over your heart. Men do a better job at this than ladies because for some reason ladies feel as if they are excluded from this rule. It doesn't matter if you have “hat hair” or that you don’t want to mess up your cute messy bun –– it’s disrespectful. Men and women sacrifice their lives for your freedoms so the least you can do is take your hat off during the National Anthem and show an ounce of gratitude and respect towards them. Also, this isn’t time to catch up on gossip or make small talk so zip it! The only reason your mouth should be running is if you’re singing along.
2. Holding the door open for others.
This is Etiquette 101, people! Men, if there is a lady in front of or behind you when heading towards a door make the effort to open it for her. This is what separates a boy from a man. Ladies, get off your high horse because you can hold the door open for others as well. I can’t tell you the number of times I’m walking behind a female through a door and she makes no effort to hold it open for the short two seconds it would take for me to reach the door. Rather, it shuts in my face. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
3. Saying thank you.
We no longer say thank you because of one, very unfortunate, reason –– entitlement. Why should we say thank you to someone holding the door open for us when we deserve it? Why should we say thank you to someone buying a meal for us when we expect it? Why should we say thank you to gifts during a special occasion because we always receive them? No one is above saying thank you.
4. Making eye contact with the person you’re talking to.
When someone is speaking to you they deserve your undivided attention. The subject of the matter is irrelevant, when someone is speaking to you show him or her regard that you are actively listening and care about what they have to say. Whether it’s your best friend or your boss, look them in the eye and listen to what they have to say.
5. Don’t interrupt others while they are talking.
When someone pauses to take a breath while they’re speaking isn’t your queue to say your two cents nor is it acceptable to cut someone off because you thought of something better to say. It reflects poorly on your character and shows you don’t care about what the other person has to say. Speak when you’re spoken to.
6. Inside voices during cell conversations.
For some reason when people are on the phone in public it’s as if they have to announce their personal business to the entire world. No one wants to hear every little detail going on in your life. So please put the megaphone, I mean cellphone, down and talk like a civilized individual.
7. Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze. 
Believe it or not, no one wants neither the illness you may have nor your boogers on them so cover your mouth! It’s not hard to keep your personal germs, personal.
8. Don’t swap spit in public.
We get it, you really like/love that other person. Regardless of sexual preference and orientation, no one likes to see other people’s tongues down each other’s throats when shopping or simply just taking a stroll. Take it behind closed doors because that’s not a public view anyone wants to see. Holding hands and a simple kiss is modest, but if things heat up for goodness sakes go somewhere else!
Don’t be that person who doesn't practice social graces, please.
