The question of whether societies have become more rude, obnoxious, etc in the past 25 years depends on what facet of society we are looking towards and who is doing the looking.
The younger the generation, the more acceptable they are towards improper forms of speech even in times and places when proper form is more appropriate. The younger the generation, the faster they are to take for granted their country's culture, but they are very quick to pick up the international culture (predominantly American influenced). Today, teenagers and little kids the world over act the same, talk the same, listen to the same music, singers, you name it they all know what you are talking about!
However, the older the generation, the opposite things are considering what I have posted thus far.
Personally, I don't think people are any more obnoxious, rude, etc today than they were 25, 50, or 100 years ago. The difference is that now rudeness is becoming more and more acceptable in previously unacceptable places and mediums of communications. In the past, it was shocking to hear a person say a curse word in public, today cursing is not much of a shocker or attention grabber unless its done in anger, but having said this, being nice still prevails in this country at least, although you will never know this if you were to judge it by the driving - but that is another thread all together.:nervous:
Listening to bachata was considered the music of low lifes drinking to oblivion in bars to hide from their daily problems. God forbid anyone saw you just passing in front of a bar blasting that "shameful and disgraceful" music. The town's next gossip would revolve around you if you were seen near such place. Today?! Well, let's just say that things have changed!
Not only is bachata acceptable, even among certain sectors of the upper classes, but its even being encouraged, possibly knocking Merengue out of its previous title as the music that identified the country!
People have become more acceptable of things, in part due to globalization. For example, before mass tourism arrived here, it was rare if not unknown to see a woman sun tanning topless at any beach. Today, head to any beach fronted by a resort and you will see topless bathing covering the sands from end to end. Of course, its still frown upon for beach attire being worn while walking around the towns and short skirts, short pants, and sometimes sleeveless shirts are not permitted at certain religious and government buildings (though they tend to make exceptions sometimes).
But, the beach scene has changed drastically from women bathing with entire clothes on (and some Dominican woman still do this, they have a bikini or bathing suit underneath an oversized shirt) to eurobabes (and the not quite babes:surprised ) sun tanning topless.
-NAL
