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It's nearly 50 years since John F. Kennedy said, "Civility is not a sign of weakness." That was before the arrival of information technology which has brought computers, cell phones, the internet and email into our everyday lives. There are so many ways in which life has changed since then and new rules evolve continually. But civility is key to it all. Bio-ethics was not an issue in our grandparents' day, and knowing right from wrong seemed simpler. Etiquette rules they taught us don't specifically cover the electronic age, nor were they formulated in a time of such speed and congestion, however their golden rules should still be sufficient to guide us through any situation today.

One golden rule states that you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It doesn't really need Miss Manners to point out that cell phones in a public place and music blaring from a car are an intrusion. They contribute to unavoidable noise pollution we are forced to live with in metropolitan areas caused by traffic, sirens, machinery and airplanes. The daily spam that enters mailboxes is another intrusion and the material is often very objectionable.

Road rage and Air rage are phenomena that have developed as roads have become congested and air traffic increases. There are more and more cars jostling for space with drivers hurrying from point A to point B. Sometimes there isn't even the need to hurry, but simply a psychological need to be in front of someone else. Common courtesy is forgotten, and pity anybody who is lost and needs to slow down a little to read a signpost more carefully. You can forget about doing unto others as you would they do unto you. Put people behind a wheel and many develop personalities that would make Napoleon seem a saint as they fight for supremacy of the road.Civility is forgotten.

Air rage is on the increase as airlines stuff more and more seats into planes, leaving passengers with less and less room to sit with any comfort. It is difficult to remain polite when you have a reclining seat in front of you making it almost impossible to move, even with your own seat in a similar reclining position. The airlines are dealing with a lot more rage and unruly behavior because of this, as well as the fact that some passengers drink too much alcohol to either pass the time or relieve the discomfort of their seat. In the process they lose their inhibitions and sense of decorum.

Plagiarism is a more frequent problem nowadays. There is such a wealth

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