Politely deadly

[twfarlan]

Movies have ruined polite conversation in this country. I don't mean that encroaching media has reduced public discourse to shouting and fandom. I mean to say that politeness is a frightening thing.

Comments

[kitsunegeek]

You know, I was raised in a large Southern family. We were taught good manners, polite forms of address, how to write invitations, RSVP's, thank you notes, etc... In English class (and from my mother, who was far more exacting) we learned language, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. I have always appreciated these early lessons, considering them essential to a refined and civilized society; therefor I have held onto what I learned and worked to increase these skills.

However, as you also note; most of society around us seems quite content to slide into grunts, hoots, and incomprehensible text-isms as a "new slang". Some even try to claim that this is an evolution of language, most don't actually remember how to use a big word like "evolution". Indeed it is often the "scary" characters that are depicted as educated, refined, well-spoken... I wonder what the intention there is? Of course, I wonder how far off they are? The people that I know that actually still value refined manners, polite society, and obvious intellect are not by any means dangerous sociopaths; but they aren't Joe Average either. Most of them are in the leather community, in fact; where a small society based on manners, protocols and formality thrives and is respected. I may be drawing an imaginary conclusion, but it was the first thing that came to my mind.

[twfarlan]

Well, watch the fictions of the era to see what is considered "fearful" to society at that time. Look at the 20s; gangsters were what people were afraid of, based on the problems of the time. In the 30s going into the 40s, it was fifth columnists and socialists, so your villains were patterned on that, leading to guys like the Red Skull. In the 50s on through the late 70s, maybe into the mid 80s even, scientists were all madmen trying to bring on the nuclear apocalypse. Doctor Doom, Lex Luthor, Doc Octopus, why, even some of the heroes of the day were results of science gone wrong, as in the case of the Hulk and the Fantastic Four. From the mid 80s, you see a shift in the heights of villainy from mad science to heartless capitalism. Lex Luthor is recast as an untouchable businessman, for example, as was Victor von Doom in recent Marvel rewrites of their various characters. Since the mid-90s or so? Mental patients, sociopaths, psychopaths, these have made up the bulk of your major villains, up to the day when terrorists became the national nightmare.

One thing to remember, though, is that many of these horrible people have one thing in common, no matter what their method of evil might be: they are intelligent. Nothing so scary as someone who can outsmart you, I suppose, or who thinks in ways you cannot follow.

As for the lifestyle communities you mention, think how careful people have to be as things are now to avoid acrimony and drama. Without codes of courtesy, can you imagine there being such communities at all? Or would they all collapse under the emotional stresses and sub-cultural pressures at work?