Episode 193: Hosts Scott Rada and Richard Kyte explore the erosion of social etiquette in American life and why it may be more consequential than it first appears.
From rising road rage and customer service outbursts to the coarse tone of online discourse, the episode looks at how rudeness has become more visible鈥攁nd perhaps more accepted. One recent found that nearly half of Americans believe people have become ruder since the COVID-19 pandemic, though most don鈥檛 see themselves as part of the problem.
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The conversation touches on , including sharp differences in attitudes toward profanity, and explores how digital communication and AI-driven systems reshape civility expectations. Kyte also reflects on his own classroom experiences and the ways formality and politeness in education have shifted over time.
Rather than seeing manners as outdated relics, Kyte argues they play a vital role in building trust, humility and cooperation. While norms constantly evolve, he cautions against the assumption that abandoning them altogether leads to greater freedom. Instead, he calls for a redefinition of etiquette that upholds respect and reinforces a more community-minded society.
About the hosts
聽is a digital strategist with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the聽聽in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is also the author of聽
