Descending decency

Once upon a time, decency was expected, not exceptional. A kind gesture, a respectful tone, a sense of duty, these weren’t acts of heroism, they were social norms. But now, decency feels like an antique. Admired from afar, rarely used. Descending Decency isn’t a cliff drop. It’s a quiet slope. A gradual erosion. A softening of standards. 

A shrug where once there was a stand.

The normalization of the nasty:

Modern society has confused authenticity with brutality. People say, “I’m just being real,” as they wound others carelessly. Kindness is seen as weakness. Courtesy is outdated.
Empathy is optional. Social media has become a stage for clout over compassion. Where the loudest voice wins, not the wisest. Where virality outweighs virtue. Where decency gets drowned out by drama. And slowly, we get used to it. We scroll past cruelty. We laugh at humiliation. We reward arrogance with applause.

The price of small compromises:

It’s not always the big betrayals that rot character. Sometimes, it’s the little moments: We ignore the rude comment. We let a lie slide because it’s convenient. We turn our backs because speaking up is uncomfortable. These aren’t acts of evil. But they accumulate.

And before long, the air changes. What was once unthinkable becomes normal.
What was once offensive becomes entertainment.

The descent isn’t just around us, it’s in us:

Every time we choose silence over integrity, we descend. Every time we trade truth for popularity, we descend. Every time we witness harm and call it “none of my business,” we descend. And the danger isn’t that society becomes cruel. It’s that we stop noticing. Or worse, stop caring.

The call to reclaim our standards:

But descent isn’t destiny. Decency can be restored. But it won’t come from policy alone. It will come from the private choices people make when no one is watching: The decision to respond with grace instead of mockery. The courage to say, “That’s not okay,” even if it costs you.

The effort to be kind, not because it’s trendy, but because it’s right.

Conclusion:

In a world numbed by noise, decency is disruptive. It’s radical to hold the door open. To apologize first. To listen with full attention. To treat people like people, not profiles. Descending decency is not irreversible, but it requires awareness, effort, and a refusal to be swept along by the current. So ask yourself: When did I last choose decency over ease? When did I last correct myself, not for approval, but for integrity?

The world may be descending, but you don’t have to go with it. Choose higher ground, even if it’s lonelier.

Because someday, when kindness comes back in style, you won’t need to adjust.
You’ll already be fluent in it.

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