Being resident in Canberra , I cannot comment about Sydney / Melbourne differences . However , I entirely about with the comments regarding inconsiderate and ignorant behaviour at public performances particularly with mobile phones .
The technodills who cannot switch off , or at least switch their mobile phones to a silent call , do not appear to understand that , while using this device , it is not necessary to shout , as the listener can hear you even if they are in the next suburb . The unfortunate person sitting near the caller has no interest in hearing the conversation , particularly if it concerns private matters .

Most of these " conversations " are meaningless . The caller asks the recipient what he is doing and where he is . The caller then tells the same information to the recipient , and concludes " I 'll ring you again later ".

Similarly , many people appear to be incapable of seeing anything , however insignificant , without taking a photo of it . There is a need for some technology to be installed in entertainment venues and public traasnsport , which renders the use of mobile phones and cameras impossible in those places . This would be unfortunate on the very rare occasions when there is a genuine need to make a phone call or take a photo , but the person wishing to do so can step outside or alight before making the call / taking the photo .

Kids are kids. They need clear rules that are enforced. Tell them they shouldn't make be disruptive or talk on their phone. Tell they they'll be kicked out if they do. It would only require 2 or 3 evictions and it would be solved.

Silly me.

I thought "Grumpy Old Men" was merely a conceit around which to build a momentarily amusing TV series. Clearly, I was wrong, and such people do exist in "real life".

Having been a regular Sydney opera-goer for over twenty years, I can honestly say that I have never once encountered the behaviours described by Mr West. Sure, we have a few happy-snappers every so often, mostly when there is a cruise ship tied up at Circular Quay, but they are invariably cautioned - very politely but firmly - by the ushers at the doors.

And for sheer breathtaking banality, this takes the biscuit:

"Second, Melbourne audiences are more attentive. They are expected to sit quietly through 15 hours of Wagner's cycle, The Ring. Sydney has a lower attention span."

When Adelaide delivered the Ring Cycle in 2004, it was estimated that 80% of the audience were out-of-towners - including many from overseas. When the Ring is performed in Melbourne in 2013, I fully expect the same percentages to apply. Nothing to do with the attentiveness of Melburnians, and I am staggered that Adrian Collette would make such a sweeping generalization. Could you perhaps provide a source, Mr West?

But I guess in an article stuffed full of generalized grumpiness, one more won't be noticed.

kids brought up as the centre of the universe think they are. Its the parents who discipline and teach the kids respect that are classed the abusers these days. Welcome to a secularized society.

Come on Peter, out with it. I know you want to tell it as it is, so why mot.

It's a woman thing. Females can't manage for even a few seconds without wanting to communicate, & the mobile is their new bible. On any bus, train, or even driving, a bloke may be listening to his Ipad or reading, but the ladies will be playing with their phone.

With many of them it is easier to talk to them by texting them than in any other way, even when they are in the same room. You almost have to text or phone them, to get through the crush.

To say it's offensive is really not going far enough. I recently drove for over an hour, & waited for over half an hour, to pick up from the airport, my youngest daughter, who has been in Darwin for some months.

If I expected to learn all about her life in Darwin I was disappointed. After the hello, thanks for coming, she pulled out her phone, & only stopped mucking with it when we reached our gate, over an hour later.

When I later pointed out that I was offended that the 2 & 3/4 hours of my life I had spent picking her up was worth only 35 seconds of communication, she was shocked, but not contrite.

I still know nothing of her life in Darwin, & I hope the train trip back to the airport allowed her lots of phone time

Umm... who cares? It's the opera, for God's sake - the single most over-rated and least entertaining art form in the known universe.

YeaH...mobile phones and etiquette don't seem to mix. I find them more a problem on public transport as per the following.

http://anothergrumpycommuter.wordpress.com/2010/12/13/the-joy-of-mobile-phones/

But then again, I'm not an opera goer so I can't really comment on that audience. Mind you, I ran the City to Surf recently and a guy running near me answered his phone and started talking about how he was currently running in the race (I am not joking either).

hasbeen,

I think you've misread Dr West. Even though he claims to be an expert on men and boys, articles I have read of his left me with the distinct impression he has some serious issues with masculinity. My impression is that Dr West is an ardent feminist and as such I have little sympathy for him.

These academics spend a lifetime attacking social norms because they feel they represent white male privilege and then when these norms are torn down and they have, well, nothing...they complain. It's a bit much.

I'm sure those opera goers were just expressing the numerous 'rights' they have learnt about. The main one being their right to do whaterver they bl**dy well like whenever they like. That is called modern society.

Firstly - the opera is merely an example of the public purse being used to subsidise a small minority's obsession with the theatre of two centuries ago. Don't really understand it myself. There are few demands for the public purse to be pillaged to stage regular productions of Euripides.
Secondly - I think it is beyond doubt that there has been a general decline in public civility. I tend to agree that children who have been raised to know no wrong and who are taught to believe that no-one else in the world is anywhere near as important as they are will exhibit self-absorbed and anti-social behaviours. They have never been told 'no'.
I personally think society would be a much better place if everyone could call people out from improper behaviour in public. Smoke in enclosed spaces - everyone should tell you off. Use foul languagae (particularly in front of women and children) - everyone should feel able to tell you to stop. Carry on like a lout - everyone has a stake in telling you it is just not acceptable.
Unfortunately no-one is prepared to stand up and say 'no'.