This is a topic I'm really interested in, so I'll try to think of something to post at .
I think
@pattersonautobody is onto something, here. It may well be a bit of a 'careful what you wish for' kind of deal, but it's completely possible for there to be a 'conservative backlash' in regards to social norms and conventions. More than just possible, I'm rather convinced it's coming.
Perhaps it may. But it would be
precisely that: a
conservative backlash. As in backlash from
traditional conservatives.
Without getting into opinions on the matter (I have some, but they're fairly heterodox and, moreover, for the sake this discussion neither here nor there)... I simply note that we currently live in an era of far-reaching egalitarianism and progressivism. I don't just mean the last few decades. I mean that everything from the late 18th century to the mid-to-late 21st century may well be called "the democratic era" or "the egalitarian era" in future historiography of the Western world.
Hmm.....
maybe.
I also think that this current period and its prevailing attitudes will not last. As indicated by the timeframe above, I personally suspect that it will not outlive this current century. It's not at all unrealistic to assume that the pendulum is going to swing back the other way, and in an equally far-reaching way as it has swung to egalitarianism and progressivism in the current period. A hundred years from now, I would not be surprised to find the Western world highly tradition-oriented, with clear social stratification, distinctive relative positions for individuals who occupy different 'rungs of the ladder', strict forms and conventions when it comes to ettiquette, and a resurgence of formal protocol in many social settings.
Hmm.....I'm sorry to say this, but I must be honest and point out that-re: the bold-you are, in fact, objectively wrong; such a scenario is, in fact,
massively unrealistic even IOTL; it is not only extremely unlikely but incredibly implausible on top of that. I mean, forget about just manners-in such a hypothetical scenario of at least nearly unprecedented mass regression, things such as acceptance of LGBT folk or interracial marriage would be gone as well. Hell, no more
Declaration of the Rights of Man, either. And chattel slavery would be back. Amongst many, many other things. So, so much would
have to happen, and so many things would have to go so utterly and dreadfully wrong to even make your scenario
possible that even the Drakaverse might be more plausible(thankfully. The world has enough problems as it is).
Dunno how commonplace it is, but my family has a dinner custom where, after you've eaten your meal, you pour a bit of water on your dirty plate as a way to give thanks to God. I dunno if this is a Muslim thing or a Malay thing, but I think it would be interesting to see the practice spread all over Southeast Asia or the Musllim world. Certainly makes mealtimes more interesting!
Now this is interesting.
For East Asia, honorifics and politeness gradients falling by the wayside is a definite possibility.
Especially from this century onward.