What happened to "thank you"?

[Yonak Hawkins]

Even Thank You cards are are on the endangered species list. I never expect them but am always happy to see one. Three wedding presents and free photography to kids from the same family and not one thank you card? Says something about their parents...

JKJ

My wife and I have friends who, whenever we go to dinner with them or invite them over, never fail to follow up with a thank you note. It gives us a very warm feeling and encourages us to want see them regularly. ..That, and the wonderful conversations we have. Cordiality seems to be becoming a lost art but, it's so easy to do and people who don't exercise it don't realize what they're missing and how it makes folks feel.

[Harold Balzonia]

I'm nuts on this topic. I'm a thank you note guy and I'm teaching (insisting) my kids do the same. Whenever they get a gift for any occasion, they aren't allowed to play with the gift or cash the check until the thank you card is in the mail. At this point (they are 10) they enjoy writing the note. This started as soon as they could write their name.

The other thank you I miss is when a motorcyclist splits lanes on the freeway and I move over to give him room. 20 years ago 9 out of 10 riders would give the low wave in acknowledgment. Now 99/100 don't.

Entitlement knows no bounds. Societally speaking, I think it's less about the "thank you" than it is about a rampant lack of gratitude, in general. Except for the biggest ticket items, (cars, houses, cabinet saws) everything anyone could want is available in an instant. We've created this instant gratification world and in turn we've lost most sense of gratitude.

interesting times....