As I’ve watched the world grow increasingly informal, I’ve wondered what we might be losing. What values that may once have served us well are being washed away with the passage of time?
Indeed, as a card-carrying member of the millennial generation, I’ve got informality down to a science. Even the style in which I write is more casual than how many columnists would have written in the past.
It’s not like I hate our casual culture. If I’m being honest, I probably wouldn’t want to go back completely.
So why do I bring up this topic?
I have an out-of-date belief that we should honor our heritage. I like the country I was born into and the world I experience, and I’m grateful for all those who came before me. I truly want to keep the best of the past and carry it into the future, even as we innovate and make things new.
My small way of honoring the past is to remember why things were done a certain way and present the best case for why they worked.
In the example of formality, I look back and see how much more formal the world once was, and I have a certain nostalgia for that era. There must be something good about it.
6 Benefits of a More Formal Culture
What is formality? By one definition, it’s acting in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette. Daily life has moved far from convention and etiquette. Reviving a touch of formality in our lives could bring the following benefits:1. Encourages Competence
One of the benefits of a formal culture is that it gently raises the expectations of people’s behavior. Certain rules and actions are expected to be followed, and these norms reinforce a society-wide belief that competence is desirable. Just as good parents encourage certain behaviors in their children, formal societal rules lead to more orderly behavior.2. Creates a Culture of Respect
Much of what we call formality can be boiled down to respectful ways of interacting with others. Whether it’s how people are addressed or how you treat those older than you, formality is a type of politeness that makes the world more pleasant. Informal people can be polite and kind, too, but I find that informality lends itself a bit more to individualism and less thinking about the feelings of others.3. Makes the World More Legible
With formality, the rules of conduct are clear, taught early, and reinforced often. In some ways, this provides everyone with a clearer path to being a productive, useful member of society. Without these established rules, charisma and personality tend to dominate, which isn’t a bad thing per se, but it does exclude quite a number of people. A healthy balance between the two might allow more people to flourish.4. Builds Shared Norms and Trust
Our culture has fragmented into many different subcultures. Very little binds us together in terms of customs, traditions, or values—or at least, a lot less than did in the past. This point is also downstream of our current culture of individualism. While I’m all for people pursuing their own passions, perhaps some shared practices of formality would create a common language that builds trust between strangers.5. Sets Clear Expectations
A number of articles have been written about young people today being adrift, not knowing what to do with their lives, and not fully embracing the default paths of their parents. That default path typically involved finding a job, getting married, having children, practicing a faith, and getting involved in the local community.6. Simplifies Life
My favorite definition of formality is a rigid observance of rules. If you think of it that way, someone who decides to wear a capsule wardrobe of just a few outfits is being formal in his or her own way. Formality simplifies life by eliminating choices and making it easier to focus on other areas. A more formal culture makes certain choices the default for everyone, making daily life a little more predictable.In this age of seemingly constant change, a little more predictability in some areas would help keep us tethered.
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