It never ceases to amaze me how little notice some people now take (1) ……… rules in public places. When I was a child, it would never have occurred to me not to comply (2)…………the rules. If someone smoked in defiance of a ‘No Smoking’ sign on a train, they would rapidly be reminded (3)……………..their transgressions by several irate passengers, who would prefer the errant smoker (4)………….the sign in no certain terms. What’s more, the person accused would normally apologize (5)…………..his indiscretion, and would certainly refrain (6)…………..repeating his anti-social behavior. These days reminding someone (7)………………….their public duty not to drop litter or swear on the streets is likely to success only (8)…………………unleashing a torrent of verbal abuse (9)………………the wrongdoer. Many people seem blithely unware that, for example, the ‘silence in the library’ rule applies (10)………………them, as much as to anyone else. Asking them is not enough, pleading (11)…………………them might still not deter them (12)……………..their noisy chat, resorting (13)……………..physical violence, an undesirable option, seems the only one likely to get a result. But, in all seriousness, what really annoys me is that one is made to feel churlish or old-fashioned just to insist (14)………………basic respect of everyday manners. Truly, it seems polite behavior and good manners count (15)………………nothing in today’s society.