At work this afternoon, I found myself teaching a young colleague some manners. About 20 of us were attending a Lunch & Learn session conducted by a colleague visiting from London. I sat next to a colleague, a fresh graduate, who had just joined a month ago.

It must be a generational thing, but it seems like these millennials think it’s perfectly fine to fiddle and play games on one’s smartphone while someone is giving a presentation. After the umpteenth time I eyed her playing on her phone, I couldn’t stand it anymore and had to say something. I turned to my left and chided, “Show your colleague some respect. Stop playing!”

I don’t think she expected that, but she did stop fiddling with her phone immediately. I must be getting old, but I felt like I really needed to teach this kid some manners. What’s wrong with people these days? Standards of basic courtesy have changed. Basic courtesy isn’t so basic after all.

All in a day’s work.