It is easier to substitute sass and style for please and thank you, or a clever quip for a sincere statement of caring. We are encouraged to be smart and sarcastic with every sit-com we watch, and we are reminded at every turn that if it's not hip, it's not happening. Too often, we buy into that attitude, and we do so at the risk of our marital relationship. If your marriage feels drafty and cold, check to see if you are living in a cardboard box. If you are, you might want to check to see what kind of foundation your marriage is being built on.
Common courtesy requires active, attentive listening.
Good manners require civilized language. Common courtesy requires thoughtful attention. Good manners require us to consider how our words and attitude affect others, and to make adjustments as needed. Common courtesy requires thinking of someone else's comfort, wants, and needs first. Good manners require the discipline of mature behavior.