2008 Woodie Awards
Got Manners?
Increasingly, it seems that good manners are becoming a limited commodity.
Nancy Aguirre
Issue date: 11/5/04 Section: Features
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In any social setting, introductions are usually followed by "So, what do you do?" This is natural, since this is one way people can get an idea of the type of person they are talking to. Knowing what type of occupation a person has can say a lot in some cases, from whether or not they have a college education, to what type of skills they have. In our society, occupation is a defining factor.
But should this also decide how we are treated as a person? Instead of treating all persons the same, or judging them for their personal qualities, society in general tends to judge people on their position in life. One of the easiest ways to tell what type of personality a person has is to take them to a restaurant and see how they treat the waiter/waitress. Unfortunately, the more "professional" a person is, and the higher the education, the ruder and less considerate they tend to be. This is ironic, for the more culture a person has, the more humane you would expect them to be.
It is so easy to take an extra minute to be polite. A simple "please" immediately changes a demand to a request, making a huge difference. By saying thank you, you turn expecting someone to do something into appreciating what someone is doing for you. Doing these things costs literally nothing, but can make such a huge difference in the way you make people feel, and in the way others will view you as a person. This applies not only to a restaurant, but any social gathering. It also applies to your personal life, at home, school, or work.
The bottom line is, treat others how you would like to be treated. It's a worn-out cliché, but it is undeniably true.
An ABC News poll shows that most of us, 85 percent of us, feel that a simple thank you and please would make the world a better place. The sad thing is that rude parents are raising rude children. If this continues, where are we headed? The Washington Post published an article title "Schools Awash in Bad Behavior," showing how the bad behavior in schools is at an all time high.
As a society, we are quickly moving downhill in the manners department, but as an individual, every one of us has the potential to set an example, to take the extra minute to be polite, and maybe we can make a difference!
But should this also decide how we are treated as a person? Instead of treating all persons the same, or judging them for their personal qualities, society in general tends to judge people on their position in life. One of the easiest ways to tell what type of personality a person has is to take them to a restaurant and see how they treat the waiter/waitress. Unfortunately, the more "professional" a person is, and the higher the education, the ruder and less considerate they tend to be. This is ironic, for the more culture a person has, the more humane you would expect them to be.
It is so easy to take an extra minute to be polite. A simple "please" immediately changes a demand to a request, making a huge difference. By saying thank you, you turn expecting someone to do something into appreciating what someone is doing for you. Doing these things costs literally nothing, but can make such a huge difference in the way you make people feel, and in the way others will view you as a person. This applies not only to a restaurant, but any social gathering. It also applies to your personal life, at home, school, or work.
The bottom line is, treat others how you would like to be treated. It's a worn-out cliché, but it is undeniably true.
An ABC News poll shows that most of us, 85 percent of us, feel that a simple thank you and please would make the world a better place. The sad thing is that rude parents are raising rude children. If this continues, where are we headed? The Washington Post published an article title "Schools Awash in Bad Behavior," showing how the bad behavior in schools is at an all time high.
As a society, we are quickly moving downhill in the manners department, but as an individual, every one of us has the potential to set an example, to take the extra minute to be polite, and maybe we can make a difference!