🚦 Introduction: A Question We All Need to Ask

You see a clean park, and someone throws a wrapper.
A no-honking zone—and someone blares their horn.
The metro has a long queue, but one person just walks to the front.

You wonder: Why?

Why do so many of us forget our manners, responsibility, and civic sense the moment we step into a public space?

“We behave better in a five-star hotel lobby than on our city street. But why?”

This article explores what civic sense really is, why people ignore it, and most importantly, how we can fix it.

 

🏙️ What Is Civic Sense?

Civic sense means being responsible and considerate in public spaces. It includes:

Not littering

Following traffic rules

Being polite in queues

Respecting public property

Not spitting or urinating in open areas

Speaking calmly instead of shouting

It's not just about laws—it’s about mutual respect and being part of a civil society.

 

🤷 Why Do We Switch It Off in Public?

Here are 7 core reasons why we act differently when we’re outside:

1. 🧠 The “Not My Problem” Syndrome

Many people think:

“It’s not my house, not my street—so why should I care?”

This detachment causes them to treat public property carelessly, forgetting that it belongs to all of us.

 

2. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Herd Mentality

If you see 10 people breaking the rules, your brain normalises it.

“If no one else is following the rules, why should I?”

People behave like sheep in groups—when others disrespect civic norms, the rest often follow.

 

3. 🔄 Lack of Accountability

Most public spaces lack supervision. No cameras. No fines. No consequences.

When there's no fear of being caught, people feel they can get away with anything—from honking endlessly to throwing trash.

 

4. 🧒 Civic Sense Was Never Taught Properly

In schools, we focus on subjects—but not on social behaviour or basic etiquette.

A child who learns not to throw paper on the floor at home should also learn why it’s wrong to do so anywhere else.

 

5. 🤳 Selfish Convenience

People break rules for instant comfort:

Throw garbage to avoid walking 10 extra steps

Break signals to save 30 seconds

Park wrongly because it's easier

Convenience beats community in their mindset.

 

6. 📉 No Pride in Public Property

If you bought a sofa, you’d never tear it or scribble on it. But a public bench? People treat it like a blank canvas.

Because they didn’t pay for it, they don’t value it.

 

7. 🧩 Lack of Empathy

Many don’t think about how their actions affect others:

Loud phone calls on public transport

Not flushing public toilets

Dumping waste in rivers

Empathy connects us to how our behaviour impacts others—without it, civic sense is impossible.

 

🧭 How Do We Bring Civic Sense Back?

It’s easy to blame the government or the system, but change begins with us.

Here’s how:

✅ 1. Lead by Example

Even if others aren’t doing it, you do it.

Pick up litter

Follow the queue

Be patient in traffic

“Civic sense is contagious—but someone has to start the infection.”

 

✅ 2. Call It Out Politely

If someone litters, kindly ask them to use the bin. If someone breaks the queue, explain the importance of waiting their turn.

You don’t need to fight—just nudge.

 

✅ 3. Teach It to Children

Children absorb everything. If they grow up watching adults be careless in public, they’ll do the same.

Show them how to be respectful

Teach why public property matters

Praise them for good behaviour outside

 

✅ 4. Push for Better Infrastructure

Sometimes, people spit on walls or throw garbage because there’s no dustbin or toilet nearby.

Raising civic sense also means demanding better public services from authorities.

 

✅ 5. Celebrate Good Examples

Appreciate people who behave well in public. Share their stories. Normalise good behaviour.

 

✨ Final Thoughts: Civic Sense Is Common Sense

The real test of a society is how we treat what we all share.

If we want cleaner cities, smoother traffic, and peaceful public spaces, we need to:

Think beyond ourselves

Act with empathy

Treat public spaces like our own living room

“Civic sense isn’t about being perfect. It’s about caring just enough to do better.”