Rude Awakening: “People have no tolerance or compassion anymore,” says Lori Vitto, USAirways. Service industry customer complaints are way up and road rage is common. Incivility is on the rise and almost the norm in some parts of the culture. Some see all this as the dark side of the New Economy. The Internet has bred a generation of brash young entrepreneurs that glorifies speed over decorum and innovation over tradition. High-tech gadgets, such as cell phones, pagers and Palm Pilots, have also fostered tendencies, enabling people to isolate themselves even in public. The problem is not limited to the high tech industry. Low unemployment is forcing employers to hire people lacking people skills. Even worse, in our society ”politeness is perceived as a weakness,” says P.M Forni, Johns Hopkins University. (WSJ 5/12/00)
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