Society has changed rapidly over the last century, and this shows no sign of slowing down. Many things that were once respected and considered a standard part of life are now greatly overlooked, especially by younger generations, just like the following 17 examples.
Tipping a Hat
Tipping your hat to people was once the pinnacle gesture for showing respect, gratitude, or recognition. Before it fell out of fashion, it was so traditionally respected that you would’ve been called rude for leaving your hat on when entering the midst of people or when in front of a respected individual.
Bowing and Curtsying
Similarly to tipping their hats, men and women would also bow or curtsy to show respect for authority. Many saw bowing as a sign of politeness and good home training, and people would behave warmer toward anyone who made this gesture to them. These days, even a handshake is seen as over-the-top by many!
Monarchies
Emperors, kings, and queens ruled the world before the presidents and prime ministers of today. Monarchies do still exist in some countries, but as The Times shares, even the famous British monarchy isn’t nearly as respected as it once was.
Loyalty to a Company
In the past, staying loyal to your employer was always seen as a sign of dedication, commitment, and loyalty worth celebrating. Not anymore, though. Many young workers will hop between jobs depending on who is paying best, and companies are having to provide increasingly large benefit packages to retain their staff.
Calling Cards
Calling cards were the go-to social interaction tools for the upper class before they fell out of fashion in the early 1990s. People used them to introduce themselves to others, announce that they were visiting beforehand, and as a measure of social class and etiquette. Today, using one would be seen as rather bizarre.
Handwritten Invitations
Similarly to calling cards, handwritten invitations were once everyone’s preferred form of communication over long distances. Whether for weddings or parties, everyone saw receiving a handwritten invitation as a great honor. Today, they aren’t only widely abandoned; they’re considered pretentious by some.
Blacksmithing
Blacksmiths may not have been among society’s upper class, but they were still highly respected as a backbone of society, making the world go round by producing essential everyday items. Sadly, blacksmithing has become a dying art, and this is owed to industrialization and mass production.
The Guinness Book of Records
The Guinness Book of Records used to be a highly respected source of information. Every year, we would long to learn about the latest human achievements, but sadly, people don’t seem to take these records seriously anymore. The Guardian points out that book sales have been declining rapidly for years.
Rites of Passage
Rituals and large ceremonies were held when someone moved from one stage of life to the next. These were mostly rites of birth, coming-of-age milestones, marriage, and old age. While some of these are still practiced today, the limelight is now primarily on college graduations and promotions at work.
Priestdom
There was a time in history when priests were respected more than kings and queens. In fact, as Columbia University remembers, the Pope once legitimized the reign of kings across Europe and was arguably the most powerful leader on earth. Now, priests only have respect within the circles of Catholic Christians.
Alchemy
Before the spread of pure chemistry, we had alchemy—a speculative practice that aimed to turn metals into gold and silver, amongst other far-fetched goals. It was even the go-to practice for medical care, but understandably, it has since fallen out of favor due to advancements in our scientific understanding.
Philosophers
Ancient philosophers like Socrates and Plato have been revered for centuries, so much so that their followers held rituals to honor them. Sadly, we hear so little about the philosophers of our time these days, and it’s rare to hear anything about them outside the occasional quote.
Teaching
Teachers have always passed knowledge down through generations, but sadly, respect for them is dwindling. According to USA Today, a 2013 Harris poll concluded that respect for teachers had gone down from 79% to 31%. The number of teacher strikes in 2023 alone shows this is only getting worse.
Online Information
The internet was once everyone’s online encyclopedia, known as a reliable source that always told the truth. These days, this couldn’t be further from the truth; everyone knows that it’s important to scrutinize the truth of online information, as many companies make up information just to appeal to their audiences.
Award Shows
Getting a nomination for an award such as the Oscars, Emmys, or Grammys once placed you at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. Over the past few decades, viewership counts have gone down, with many movie fans feeling that independent productions are underrepresented in place for industry politics.
Democracy
Democracy has long been regarded as the ideal system of government, promising to protect the people’s wishes through majority rule and respect for human rights. The general person still holds democracy in high regard, but unfortunately, many governments show far less respect, corrupting it through greed.
The Police
Finally, Policemen were once respected and considered integral to keeping society in order, yet while they still play this role, not everyone respects their work. Bad eggs among them have caused many people to see the police force as corrupt and unprofessional, with The Times revealing that 78% of them currently feel disrespected by the public.
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