Serena Williams has it out with a lineswoman during the US Open. US Rep Joe Wilson shouts down President Obama. And Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the VMAs to tell the crowd that Beyonce should have won.

As a parent who’s constantly trying to teach her kids to control themselves, watch what they say, and practice self-control, I have to ask myself, What is up with people these days? Can’t they keep their big mouths shut?

It’s hard enough trying to teach kids manners. It’s difficult to make them see the point of common courtesy like watching your language, saying “Excuse me” when you bump into someone, or letting the other person go first, whether it’s through a door or taking a turn in Monopoly. Now I’ve got to contend with so-called leaders in almost every area of culture – from politics to sports to music – who have less self-control than a five-year-old in FAO Schwarz.

There are all sorts of explanations and excuses… the heat of the moment, the passion of athletic competition, the intoxicating effects of a drink or two. But I really don’t care why people are acting like frat boys; I’d rather they just stopped.

Maybe I’m the one who’s out of touch. Maybe manners are obsolete. Maybe “Me First” is the lesson we should be teaching our kids in order to survive in the world of the future. But I sure hope not. But with the way the famous folks are behaving these days, I’m not so sure what’s in store for us a decade or two down the road.  

What’s giving me hope, though, is the fact that Serena and Joe have received official reprimands for their actions, and Kanye is getting a dressing-down by everyone from Jay Leno to Miley Cyrus. People aren’t letting these sorts of temper tantrums go quietly into that dark night. But is attention enough? Maybe to keep these sorts of incidents from happening again, we should consider some real punishments. Examples:

• Time-out. Put Joe Wilson in the “naughty chair.” He gets a minute per year of age, so we won’t see him until 2010.   
   
• Lines. Instead of docking her a point, have Serena write 1000 times, “I will not throw my racket or curse at the lineswomen.” Her hand might cramp, but it’ll loosen up by the Australian Open in January.
   
• Grounding. Sorry, Jay Z. Kanye can’t come out to play at. He’s grounded. And if that doesn’t work, we’re docking your allowance, too.

Hey, these work with my nine-year-old. They just might be worth a shot. And if they don’t have the desired effect? I’ve got a back-up plan. Let’s call Supernanny.