How are manners different now compared to when you were younger?

A natural way to answer

I'd say things are more informal now. We used to dress up and use titles like Mr or Mrs, whereas now it's first names almost everywhere. Some politeness has faded, but in other ways we're kinder and more open about how we treat each other.

Key phrases to use

• batting an eyelid — showing no reaction or surprise at all“She told the whole story without batting an eyelid.”
• fallen by the wayside — been gradually forgotten or stopped being used“Writing thank-you cards has rather fallen by the wayside.”