It's been five years since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic and many Americans believe public behavior has gotten worse.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, nearly half (47%) of the almost 10,000 adults surveyed last November said Americans have become increasingly rude since the pandemic. 20% of those surveyed say people are "a lot more rude" and 26% say they are "a little more rude."
Another 44% of adults say public behavior is about the same, but only 9% say people are behaving more politely in public.
Valerie Sokolosky, Fox News contributor, author and expert on business etiquette and professional image, said there's no accountability these days.
"When there's no consequences, people take advantage of it," she said. "Where are the people to say 'stop, that's enough?'"
Sokolosky thinks there's also a this mob-type of mentality that is leading to more outbursts and poor mannerisms in public these days. In recent memory, major cities across the country like Dallas, where Sokolosky is from, have seen riots, statues torn down and people being rude out in the open.
"We went to dinner the other night and there was this group sitting close to us with one person in that group who started to be rude and loud, but the restaurant owner didn't come over and saw anything to that person," said Sokolosky.
"Where's the accountability?" she asked.
To her, too many people think the world revolves around them and that they won't get in trouble for how they act in public, if they are doing so in an obnoxious manner.
"Rudeness is rampant and until people start being held accountable, they'll continue," Sokolosky said. "Grow up people."
In order to change that behavior, something has to be done at home, where learning life lessons and proper etiquette all starts. According to Sokolosky, the feeling of wellbeing is not what it used to be and people are losing their self-confidence.
"Whatever your issues are, I would encourage people to seek others out because it's OK for people to get some counseling if they need it or get some coaching," said Sokolosky.
Sokolosky knew Letitia Baldrige, who was the White House Social Secretary during the Kennedy presidency. She was also known as the 'Etiquette Maven.' Sokolosky considered herself an associate of Baldridge who would call her for advice every once in a while. What she would usually hear in response whenever she would give her a call was something along the lines of, "Oh Valerie, you know those answers, you don't need to call me."
"What she was saying is 'it's common sense,'" Sokolosky explained, which she also believes more and more people seem to be lacking in today's world.
Millions of Americans got sick during covid. Apparently, people have gotten a lot ruder since then too.
Photo: Pew Research Center