its kids today - there is a sense of entitlement, but also, the internet age has blown away formality.
consider this - on facebook, i have family, cousins, college friends, and even some middle school friends. But i also have people i work with.
the intermingling of the personal and work relationship i think leads to the informality of folks.
I am pro, less formality. i hate wearing a piece of silk around my neck and never understood why i was then more appropriate to attend events with other men running around with silk around their necks.
having said that, appreciation, manors, common decency - should not be eroded.