In this case, I’m referring to the notion that we all make minor sacrifices in our daily interactions in service of a “greater good” for everyone.
“Following the rules” would be a simplified version of what I’m talking about, I suppose. But also keeping an awareness/attitude about "How will my choices affect the people around me in this moment? “Common courtesy”, “situational awareness”, etc…
I don’t know that it’s a “new” phenomenon by any means, I just seem to have an increasing (subjective) awareness of it’s decline of late.
Yes. Quite often, sadly. Usually when I’m driving, but also when I see someone blatantly littering in front of a perfectly good trash can or absent-mindedly blocking an aisle at the grocery store.
Integrity is no longer valued in our society because it’s an intangible virtue that you can’t directly benefit from, so many people toss out that decorum for marginal gains. The reason I throw my trash away in a trash can is because I respect the social contract and I don’t want to leave a mess for someone else to have to clean (even if it might be their job to clean it) not because I’m afraid of being judged or confronted by others, which I think is the only thing keeping most people on the right side of the equation these days.
The Shopping Cart Theory is a fantastic way to determine if you are dealing with somebody who doesn’t respect the social contract, and indeed, that attitude transcends mere niceties and seeps into their personality - laziness, selfishness, and a general lack of respect for other people’s time and property.