Manners exist really just to help make each other comfortable. There has been a definite shift away from courtesy towards others for the common good and an alternative embracing of "me me me," recently, that is now contorting itself in such a way as to show the ugly side of it. Selfishness works if only one person is being exploitive but if the majority all behave selfishly then the tactic fails - there is then nothing to exploit, just a mosh pit of elbows and knuckles. Take driving for example, the thought jumped at me while watching people on a highway the other day. Being a pushy jerk and not merging until the last minute only works out for you if other people yield, if other people do not yield you just become the jerk holding up the line, watched someone get stuck a good long while. If no-one has manners no-one can be outdone, no-one can win, it seems we are there now.