On civility

The last month has been a time when I think I have observed less civility than at any other in my life. That’s not to say it wasn’t always happening around me, just that I have really noticed it recently.
It starts with public figures. Trump vs Rosie. Bush & Cheney vs. just about everyone else nowadays on the topic of war. Obama vs Clinton.
It seeped into almost all of my favorite blogsites as they actually starting fighting each other. Dkos vs. My Left Wing. That one has been horrible and I wont sign on to MLW anymore. But then, Dkos has gotten terrible within its ranks too. I knew the primaries would be contentious, but its been SO nasty there! Reasoned debate is falling by the wayside and people insult and name call at a moments notice. I’ve never seen such thin skin as even our normally friendly kiddie pool of Cheers and Jeers was muddied when one user just slammed another in such an ugly way over a perceived insult that no one else thought was anything but the usual snark in that forum.
I have been guilty of it. Even though I was happy to see results, the email I sent out a few weeks ago about the basement conditions WAS too harsh. I probably could hae acheived the same results without being so brash and I would certainly not have lost the respect of the facility director who I still must work with.
Then today at DS2’s little league scrimmage, I saw it again. A parent from the other team first was abrasive to a few of us in the early innings. Walked up and started kind of barking out questions about things without any introduction or clarification as to why he was quizzing us. Then in the last inning, while the game was going on, he confronted our manager about his use of a certain pitcher and the pitches the kid was throwing. Naturally, our manager responded quite defensively, but I also thought he was a little too quick to anger and raise his voice in return. What is going on? That parent could have just as easily waited until the game was over, introduced himself and explained his background (found out later he is a high school coach and Major League scout) and then expressed his concerns over injuring a young pitcher’s arm etc etc. I am sure our manager would have been much more inclined to listen and consider his points.
Why has it become the norm to attack first and apologize (hopefully) later? When did we lose our sense of civility in this country? Is it partly due to the Jerry Springer type shows? Reality TV that purposefully sets up tense and conflicting situations where people will spar verbally (such as Wife Swap). Political posturing and attacking and negative campaigning? Why do people respond to that?
I don’t know. I have in the past been kind of proud that I am not one to back down from confrontation and that I am opinionated and passionate about my beliefs and can express them well. I thought it was good that I am brutally honest. But then, the brutally part is the problem isn’t it? I need to work on that so I am not contributing to the bickering that seems to be surrounding me right now.