Hello World!

In today’s world, outrageous acts get you big-time media play. The more obnoxious the act, the more attention it draws. Think Bernie Madoff. Even the rants of Rush Limbaugh.

Indeed, cameras love to drool over those baddies in entertainment: After Kanye West recently burst onto the stage of the Video Music Awards to declare that Taylor Swift shouldn’t be the recipient of her prize, he was showered with publicity.

The message we’re being given: The worse the act, the more it delivers fame, TV interviews, maybe a best-selling book and perhaps even more glorification in Hollywood.

And who’s to say no? Unless you commit a legally defined crime, few rules will cramp your style in a dog-eat-dog world where traditional social norms and religious tenets hold ever less sway.

Of course, most of us aren’t victims of mega-crimes. But in today’s me-first-and-only world, it’s common to confront hurtful, rude and insidious behavior from those around us: neighbors, colleagues at work, friends and yes, even relatives. And although this takes a toll on us, today’s lack of social boundaries means that whoever inflicts pain on us can escape without guilt.

So that’s where Get Civilized.net comes in. In our 12 Commandments, we’re spelling out rules for behavior in the 21st Century. We’re seeking a dialogue that can change the public’s mounting me-first-and-only mindset. Tell us what you think. Let us know how you feel about the way we are treating each other. We want your participation in this campaign for positive change. Become an American who cares.