The other day I was buying a birthday card, flowers, and balloons for my sister. The clerk at the checkout said, “So. Someone having a birthday today?” Then, I watched in disbelief as Captain Observation proceeded to open the greeting card and read it.

This is only one example of the type of rudeness that goes on today. People seem to think that it is OK to invade someone’s personal space in almost any situation. Have you seen MTV’s new reality show called “Boiling Points”? Actors go out and ruin orders at a bakery, pretend to be a rude waitress, or follow closely behind someone on a sidewalk while blaring a boom box. If the “victims” go for more than a certain amount of time without getting irritated or demanding retribution for the problem, they win $100. It’s a disgraceful display of rewarding people who tolerate, and thus encourage, rudeness.

I cannot believe that society has come to a point where not tolerating rudeness is considered rude. Obviously, in MTV’s case, it is all a prank. But what kind of a message does this send? “Put up with a botched wedding cake and you will be rewarded!” Or, “Sit quietly while the inane waitress ruins your date and you’re a better person!” This is the biggest load of garbage I have ever seen.

Soon it won’t matter what kind of customer service a business has because everyone will accept offensive employees. Working hard won’t matter because, after all, mistakes happen, and by these new standards, people who seek recourse would be rude.

Our generation will have to be the one to counteract these trends. My favorite local radio morning show is on a campaign against society’s general rudeness, which they call D.A.W.N. syndrome: Discourteous, Asinine, Worthless Nonsense. They are taking on rudeness one idiot at a time, and we should follow their example.

When confronted by poor customer service or a person who obviously cannot function competently in society–such as the retail clerk that comments on your purchases or the parent who lets their children run rampant through the grocery store–one should respond by letting that person know they are breaking social norms. Try writing a letter to the corporate office of the restaurant with incompetent management, or walking out of the grocery store where the clerk reads your greeting cards. Be imaginative! Creating a courteous society starts with you.