The Decline of Public Decorum: What’s Behind the Shift?

In recent times, it seems there’s been a noticeable decline in public etiquette. This isn’t about individuals facing challenging circumstances, like homelessness or substance abuse, but rather typical commuters exhibiting increasingly disruptive behavior in shared spaces.

Throughout daily travels, one might witness a range of discourteous acts: spitting on train platforms, vaping in enclosed public transport areas, and broadcasting music from portable speakers instead of using headphones. Others choose to pause for conversations or phone calls right in the flow of pedestrian traffic, or rudely rush onto public transport without allowing exiting passengers the opportunity to disembark.

While these behaviors are by no means new, there’s a growing sentiment that they’re becoming more prevalent. There’s the crudeness of urinating publicly in plain sight, the flagrant disregard for fare requirements, and even blatant instances of shoplifting, like casually walking out of a café with unpaid items.

This isn’t about being overly critical or impossible to please; it’s a genuine observation many of us have made, particularly over the past couple of years. The convenient explanation often points to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but can the pandemic truly bear the full burden of this shift? Is it a matter of fewer consequences, or are we collectively turning a blind eye to avoid potential conflict? These questions warrant further reflection as we navigate a world where everyday manners seem to be slipping away.