From angry shoppers to packed streets, many Americans say they're noticing a rise in rudeness.
"The guy got out of his truck and the kid was just a teenager. (He) was cussing him and wanted to kick his you know what. It was horrible, I never saw anything like that before,” Melodee Gates said.
Doctor Pfohl, a psychologist, said rudeness can lead to bullying and even violence.
"It could be road rage, or somebody pulling a weapon on somebody in a way to get even or to control people,” Pfohl said.
If you're an adult and you think you have a problem with rudeness, Pfohl said the first step is self analysis.
"Why am I doing this? Am I getting something from somebody else that says 'Hey you're a bully, you don't have any right to do that or say that,” said Dr. Pfohl.
He also said you should also make sure you're not modeling the behavior for anyone else to imitate.
"Are they doing this behavior and other people are learning it from them, which could be their kids, or their colleagues at work or other people like that,” Pfohl said.
Then he said to consider your alternatives. "What plan do you have other than bullying?"
Schools around the area are working on teaching the next generation about manners and etiquette for when they grow up.
"It doesn't make any difference what they know, if they don't know how to act when they get in that interview room or when they go into that building,” said Judy Whitson, the principal of T.C. Cherry Elementary.
Schools are also working to teach children about the consequences of their actions.
"Kids are so egocentric in that it's always about me, so if you can get them to understand the diversity and other people's perspective then you're much more likely to effect change,” said Margie Evans, T.C. Cherry's School Counselor.
In 2002 the non-profit group Public Agenda released a report about lack of respect in society. To see the group's findings you can log onto http://www.publicagenda.org/press/press_release_detail.cfm?list=45.