Children are what their parents are... and "Minnesota nice" was what we had 25 years ago. The Minnesota of today is not the Minnesota of the time of Minnesota nice. Yes, back then people always let you merge (really), and shoveled your walk when you were way, and let the older have the closer parking spot... We used to blame the slow loss of nice on those moving into the state, but it's way past that now - Minnesota nice leaders were replaced by "me" leaders who teach kids to take and that you have to lose for me to win, and may the best competitor in that game win. And you wonder why the kids who hear the complaining at home about this leader and that group and bully so much harsher now - they are their parents. They always have been, and they still are.

Oh.. sorry if offend anyone when I blame the parents for how their kids act... But if not them, who?

Wasn't the term "Minnesota Nice" originally coined as a jab at Minnesotans' passive -agressive nature? Alas, we've gone from passively disliking those different than us, to agressively disliking those different than us. Too bad, as I had a lot of hope for future generations. Unfortunately, bullying is the flavor of the week for the media, but it's getting stale. Bullying has been around since the dawn of time, I bet if if you go back in time, you would find three neanderthals bullying the neanderthal dude that invented the wheel. We need to move on and get over it.

@Hoble2, don't kid yourself. I went to Hopkins High School 25 years ago and bullying was alive and well. We had two suicides while I was there due to bullying with my own attempt almost being number three. I had to change schools to get away and even now I've heard that on FB some people joked they're surprised I'm still alive (and to add fuel to the flame I'm doing fantastic!). Times haven't changed, the issue is just getting more media play. And by the by, nobody ever shoveled our walk or asked if we needed help. Minnesota Nice equates to our society's willing disregard for the care of others because it is safe.

"Minnesota Nice" was a term first used by sports casters back in the '80s when we hosted several national sporting events (MLB All Star Game, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four). The local cabbies and hotel workers were coached to be polite and their behavior so impressed the national sports media that they bestowed the honor on us. We're just like anyone else - no better, no worse.

As far as I can tell, Minnesota nice is more about being polite to guests and strangers rather than actually being consistently decent to each other. I'm glad that students are now actively challenging the bullies in their high school communities. We need to do this at the city and state level as well. It is important to stand up for basic respect and kindness. Fight for what you believe in, but don't be rude or viscous.

The bullying issue has always been around. This new generation was brought up as the coddled " Me" generation and are more used to video games and electronic social networking so they have weaker social skills in real life to deal with situations like this. While true, I expect this comment won't get approved here because it's not politically correct.