What is happening to what was normal courtesy?

If you contact a business, you are told you will be rung back. Oh yes? You'll be lucky.

Or if you answer an ad and make an appointment, no appointment is kept and no apology made.

Have you sent a present to a child relation? Did you get a thank you, even by phone? The parents probably know good manners.

Have you been to a multiple store recently? Have you had a bored assistant manicuring her fingernails and ignoring you?

-E Barron, Seaford