Has common courtesy become extinct? After tripping over damaged sidewalk infrastructure and enduring 14 stitches, I found myself navigating not just physical recovery but the seemingly more painful labyrinth of city bureaucracy. What struck me most wasn't the fall itself but how my interaction with "Cherie" from the claims department exemplified everything wrong with human communication today – impersonal questioning, zero empathy, and complete unwillingness to take accountability.

This encounter opened my eyes to a broader cultural shift. When did saying "please" and "thank you" become optional? Somewhere between Tiger King and banana bread, society seems to have left basic courtesy at the curb with the recycling. People bump into you without apology, customer service representatives put you on hold without greeting, and teenagers working registers respond to gratitude with unintelligible grunts. Technology has replaced human interaction with iPads and self-checkout kiosks, further eroding our connections and expectations of basic decency.

What can we do in this brave new world of rudeness? I offer practical strategies like the "raised eyebrow of doom," the Southern "bless your heart," and channeling your inner customer service professional. But more importantly, I suggest becoming "the people we miss" – those who express gratitude, make eye contact, and don't act like minor inconveniences are catastrophes. While we can't control others' behavior, we can control our responses and maybe, just maybe, inspire others through example. The world may be loud, distracted and short-tempered, but we don't have to be. Let's bring back the simple, soothing art of not being a jackass.