Comments on: Climate Change

By: --Deb

--Deb — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:59:32 +0000

I agree–it comes down to respect. Manners aren’t about the niceties like which fork to use, or how promptly you send your thank you note. It’s about respecting other people’s right to the same ease of getting through life that you want yourself. We’re all travelling together, we just need to make the trip bearable.

Great Vonnegut quote–sometimes, just knowing that courtesy is there for when you need it, helps getting through some of the more difficult moments of life.

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:05:50 +0000

Kurt Vonnegut had a great quote:

“Kindness will fail, but courtesy will prevail.”

The man had seen some horrific things in his life. He was able to trace most disasters back to rudeness and a lack of courtesy. I don’t think more Emily Post is the answer, but I don’t think that we can write blank checks for rude behavior just so the next generation can express itself either.

Good question with no easy, black and white answers.

I love grammar!
.-= Josh Hanagarne´s last blog ..13 Days of Darkness Part 1 – Book Review: Song of Kali =-.

By: Erik Hare

Erik Hare — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:54:12 +0000

I think there is a way each generation can develop its own sense of manners and still be polite. I had to unlearn holding doors open for women and walking on the curbside of the street, but giving up your seat on the bus for an elder is still a good thing. Being respectful is always in style, anywhere in the world.

I taught my daughter to keep her eyes open and be as respectful as possible with people she doesn’t know, and I know it’s gotten her respect back – something a 13 year old really craves.

What is the right behavior for this generation? I think it comes down to meeting the stranger half-way. If they are older, you play by their rules. If they are another race, you make a point of smiling and acting reasonable. If you get to know people, you can make a reasonable guess as to where they are coming from and show a little respect without going over the top on the whole “rules of etiquette” stuff.
.-= Erik Hare´s last blog ..Big Mac Index =-.

By: --Deb

--Deb — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:27:38 +0000

I think the difference is that, as a society, we’re not as focused on manners as we had been in the past. People used to have bad manners, sure, but there were still etiquette guides in the paper, the “children should be seen and not heard” theory… manners were more emphasized.

(And, of course, should not be confused with political correctness, which is really a whole, different post!) (grin)

By: J

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:02:43 +0000

Then again, I don't think my grandfather would ever use the cell phone in the bathroom, so maybe it's not just that modern technologies make bad manners obvious, in some cases, they make them more possible. .-= J´s last blog ..It was 20 years ago today… =-.

By: J

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:00:58 +0000

I for one don’t need anyone to hold a door open for me, unless my arms are full. But I am grateful for the courtesy, whether that person be a man or a woman. What I resent is the man who RUSHES ahead of me to open the door, making a big deal about it, or the man who SIGHS in exasperation if I happen to get there first and don’t wait for him, and open it for myself. I’m not an idiot. I can open a door.

I sometimes wonder if manners are not really any worse now than they were before, but because of modern technologies, they’re just more obvious and in our face? My grandfather said the most horrid things about women and people of color, but he didn’t have a blog/twitter/fax machine/facebook/etc/ He was a gentleman, who opened doors for women, and wanted them kept in their place, along with colored people and poor whites.
.-= J´s last blog ..It was 20 years ago today… =-.