Manners

There is all this talk about people getting ruder, that everyone is in there own zone, so they don't have the "time" for common courtesy. I know that I am guilty of that. A perfect example, I'm walking down the street, no reason to be in a hurry, and I am so pissed off at the old people in front of me taking up the sidewalk, strolling like they had nothing to do (like myself).
Most of the time though it seems like I'm the one that is mannerly. Like when I buy cigarettes, the woman that works there is always on the phone (I always wonder who folks are talking too? I guess I'm really unpopular because my cell phone rarely rings, actually when the phone does ring I assume that its bad news or a bill collector). Even though she is on the phone, I always say please and thank you. I tried a couple of times to just say "camel lights" without the please, or pay get my change and walk out without saying thank you, or making some sort of eye contact, as not to disturb her on her call, but it just never seems right I felt bad about it and almost wanted to go back.
Sometimes when I'm on the train I feel like I should give my seat to a senior citizen. I did that once in Chicago, and the woman told me "I'm not that much older than you honey...Keep the fucking seat" I haven't done that since.