Emily Post, Miss Manners, and the Collapse of Common Courtesy
Emily Post taught kindness. Miss Manners taught civility. Both spent decades explaining how to treat people. Looking at today’s culture, they might wonder what happened.
From the Archives
The Last Generation That Got Lost
Long before GPS guided every turn, Americans relied on paper maps, handwritten directions, and a healthy dose of confidence. Somehow, we still managed to get there.
Kids Didn’t Need Batteries
Long before screens dominated childhood, kids entertained themselves outdoors with bicycles, neighborhood games, roller skates, and imagination. Here’s how childhood looked before batteries became required equipment.
Saturday Morning Cartoons Were an Event
Before on-demand entertainment, Saturday morning cartoons were a weekly event. Kids across America gathered around the television for a shared experience that today’s generation will never fully understand.
Micky Dolenz: The Drummer Who Wasn’t a Drummer
Before he became the drummer for The Monkees, Micky Dolenz had never played a drum kit. The former child star of Circus Boy learned on the fly and eventually became a legitimate touring and recording musician.
The Sears Catalog Was Amazon Before Amazon
Before Amazon, America shopped through a giant book called the Sears catalog. It wasn’t just a catalog—it was entertainment, aspiration, and a national wish list.
When TV Had Three Channels and Everybody Watched the Same Thing
Before streaming, social media, and endless entertainment choices, America gathered around just three television networks. The result was something we rarely experience today: a shared national culture.
Life Before Caller ID
Before caller ID, every phone call was a surprise. You answered first and figured out who it was afterward. Somehow, civilization survived.
Why Can You Remember a TV Theme From 1965—but Forget Why You Walked Into the Kitchen?
Before streaming services gave us a “Skip Intro” button, television theme songs were part of the experience. Here’s why we still remember them decades later.
The Day the Mall Was the Internet
Before social media, streaming, and online shopping, the mall was where people gathered, wandered, discovered music, saw movies, met friends, and found out what everyone was doing.