Most of us believe our world has become increasingly uncivil — kids are out of control, people talk on their cellphones everywhere, and profanity is part of everyday parlance. But hasn't every generation since time began worried that their world was becoming less tolerant and less civil? And isn't change sometimes for the better? Not too long ago a woman wearing pants could be seen as uncivil, and so was a black person using a public water fountain.

Our guide Valerie Pringle tracks down the experts in her quest for a 21st century guide to manners, addressing some difficult questions along the way. Is the devolution of civility an unwanted side effect of the civil rights movement and the "me first" ethos that came out of the '60s? Or could our bad manners be a by-product of iPods, BlackBerrys and other new technology? Where did we go wrong — did we go wrong? — and is it possible to change?

WARNING: This program contains occasional scenes with coarse language. Viewer discretion is advised.