When was this golden age of good manners, exactly? I don't think it ever really existed. But even if you buy into the idyllic view of the '50s or whenever was supposed to be the glory days of etiquette, how much courtesy do you think you'd have been shown if you espoused the wrong beliefs? About as much as you'd be shown if you were the wrong color, I'd guess. Probably not even that much. Naturally, if you live in a more homogeneous and conformist time and place, there will be less strife because what's there to fight over?

im getting fatigues with all those nintendoom thread post-holidays... wait somebody read a book???? :O ok instafriend

Relax!!!

Let me tell you about two important rules of the internet.

(1) Everyone in the world has had different experiences, and therefore holds a different perspective on each issue. Living in poverty is a lot different than hearing about someone living in poverty. In addition to this is epigenetics, which includes the wide variety of genes, and how our genes are expressed depending on our experiences. For example some people are genetically predisposed to be liberal or conservative.

(2) Everyone is ignorant of the the point in (1). Everyone views the world through their own perspective.

(3) Everyone is ignorant of their ignorance.

Bottom line, it's OK to have disagreements. We'll continue to have them because we're all different.

Umm, forgive my ignorance, but what?!

Source please?

Here's one source. But there are better sources out there.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120827122410.htm

Here's another:

http://www.economist.com/node/21564191

Also, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SOQduoLgRw

This is a seriously flawed study. It only indicates that certain tendencies of twins are genetically influenced. To assume that it's also true for the rest of us is to assume that twins are people. And, of course, they are not.

Source 1: Speculative, doesn't say anything concrete.

Source 2: Study assumes identical twins have no more personal bond than fraternal twins. All the identical twins I know are much closer to each other than fraternal twins who all act like regular brothers and sisters. This article assumes this is genetic, but I would argue that it is due to identical twins identifying with each other more because they see themselves when they look at each other unlike fraternal twins.

Source 3: Has nothing to do with your statement. The speaker is talking about the differences between liberal and conservative "Moral Matrix" and makes no declarations of genetics outside mammal group empathy.

Source 3 is just to raise awareness of the influences of politics. Maybe political beliefs are not completely based on genetics (most likely epigenetics), but there is an underlying moral basis which may be rooted in genetics. It's very straight forward if you believe in evolution. 

1950's were polite... in that they were formal when they shut your ass ou of beign able to earn a living for no reason because someones cousin's uncles girlfriend said you were a communist.

You know... just for being accused of having that point of view... let alone actually having it or expressing it.   The word's may be more coarse now, but i'd say we've grown quite a bit in accepting different ideals. (Let alone being gay or black or a woman in the "good old polite" days"

I do agree that anyone can pull up anything on the internet to support their claim. Books and journals are still the most effective way to prove your point.