The Value of Human Decency

From childhood all of us are ingrained with the doctrines of 'niceness' or 'politeness' or even, in their simplest form, 'humanity.' (Hands up if you never heard 'Sharing is caring', 'Treat others as you wish to be treated' or anything along those lines). My parents were undoubtedly slightly more forceful than most in trying to enforce this message, and by slightly more forceful, I mean mercilessly beat me until it was drilled into my head that stepping a foot out of line was wrong. 

Swearing - beatings.

Hitting people - beatings.

Rudeness - beatings.

Even using my left hand to give them things or eat, seen in my culture as being rude would occasionally earn a slap or at least a stern talking to.

Just in case any of you don't know your left from your right.

I like to think that without my (with hindsight) admittedly somewhat excessively painful upbringing, I wouldn't be the same person I am today. I enjoy some degree of success in my academics and I'm (in my opinion) a polite and caring fully functioning member of society. But when I think about it, aside from the academia, I've realised there is no denying that my value of what classifies as acceptable has changed so much that it has now become almost unrecognisable from a 6, 7 or even 11 year old me. 

Back when I was just a young child I kinda just took it for granted that I'd grow up in a perfect little bubble of decency and politeness. A world rife with 'bless you's, doors being held open and people smiling at each other on the tube.

Happy days.

As I grew up, sadly enough, I realised this isn't the case. Small things like smiling at someone in public rather than staring them down or saying 'bless you' to someone aren't common place, and the utopia I once expected is yet to come into fruition. I truly realised the extent of this about a month ago. I'd just refereed a game between a bunch of year 8s (I'm not even qualified, basically got paid 30 quid to just stand there as part of the decoration) and I was waiting at the bus stop to get back home. 

This guy comes over and waits next to me and I was immediately distrusting of him. He checks the bus times and tells me it's due in a minute, completely out of the blue, despite holding absolutely no relation to me. Once the bus came he even steps out of the way and allows me through with a 'you first'. Human Decency. 

The boy simply does something you'd like to think anybody would do but I immediately distrust him and I'm even moved to the point of writing a blog entry about it on a blog which isn't even my own. When did we become a society in which simply allowing someone onto the bus before you was an act to be celebrated? Are we really so selfish as a society that these things strike a chord with even someone like myself who had the respect for others beaten into me?

 

My Parents' Personal Favourite Weapons

I do strongly believe in the good in all people (We All Try - Frank Ocean) and I like to think some people in society are maybe simply too busy to think of how they can be polite and look out for others all the time. So many people make an effort, and I appreciate that, but so many more are simply completely self-absorbed and incapable of catering to the needs of others. 

Even if it's just one considered act of kindness a day, if I can leave you with one thing today, it's to simply try and make as happy and comfortable an environment as possible for those around you. You'll be happier for it and your friends and family will be happier for it. Hopefully our children will be able to grow up in a closer and more caring world than that we live in. Human decency isn't extinct. We just need to find it within ourselves. Nobody's perfect but we can all make an effort.