Time Lag

I've been wondering recently why we, as a society, decided that self service was a GOOD idea.  Somehow we moved from a society where people did things for others - the attendent used to fill your car with petrol, grocers would put together your shopping order, etc - to one where we did it all for ourselves.  And does this change in behaviour now reflect our attitudes to each other.  Society does not care for its neighbour, people do not watch out for each other or each others children, people think that they have a right to things.  Off course 80 years ago things were not all rosey, average lifespan was shorter, less money, and so on.  But in trying to imrpove a persons lot in life we have made the whole thing worse.  Individuals are better off, but culture is sick.