PLEASE ladies and gentlemen, allow me to talk about manners. There – I’m already showing I have them!

But if I start talking about declining standards will I just be accused of “grumpy old person syndrome”?

In reality every generation has bemoaned the next.

Elders criticise the young, the young rebel against the elders. At some point in our lives we will all say: “Things are going downhill.”

I often hear people (of a certain age) longing for the return of “Victorian values”. But weren’t these the people who would spit and urinate in the street?

Don’t get me wrong, I am one of those people who thinks manners aren’t what they were (and I am of a certain age).

I do get annoyed when people don’t hold a door open for a woman – but then in our new unlighted and equal world is that now considered passé?

I do offer my seat for an elderly person on a train – but then when someone did that for me recently I was actually quietly offended!

Do I really look that old? It’s a minefield out there.

But here’s a thing I am sure about – mobile phones are an assault on good manners.

I was delighted to read that apparently the actress Gwyneth Paltrow has banned her children from using their phones at the meal table. And her daughter is called Apple!

I applaud the restaurant that has “phone safes” at every table. When diners come in they have to drop their phones into the safe and they only get them back when they leave.

And as a journalist please don’t get me started on language. Mobile phones have a lot to answer for there. In my opinion “text speak” is a real threat to our language.

I can just hear the young saying: “Come on old man – language is always evolving.” Maybe they’re right.

So BFN… LOL… (just ask your children)

If you wish to contact Clinton, you can email him at clinton.rogers@countygazette.co.uk.