So I may not consider myself Miss Manners, but I am no maverick either. I find it interesting that finishing schools or learning about etiquette seem like antiquated ideas, but almost daily we encounter social dilemmas in which those skills would be beneficial.
Riddle me this batman (and don't act like this doesn't happen to you at least once a month) Friend A wants to hang out this Friday night, sure why not?! Friend B whom you either like better or haven't seen in a longer time, tells you a day later that they want to hang out Friday night. What is the "proper" thing to do? Now, I know we would all handle this situation differently. Any way we can all hang out? Can you reschedule with Friend A, or do you just suck it up and reschedule with B, etc etc. Yes I know, these are not earth shattering problems nor am I trying to solve world hunger, however I think we are in social predicaments daily and many people just don't have the common sense on how to act and react.
Manners aren't simple "pleases" and "thank yous" we need to worry about, but are about RSVPing to a wedding in a timely manner so the bride who has 9,000 other dilemmas to deal with can do the seating chart for your table? Or how about something as small as not eavesdropping on private conversations. (Which happens more often than not, which I also think stems from the stalking culture, social media has developed...blog for another day though).
Anyway, little changes that we can make in our daily habits and routines will probably make us more refined individuals. I speak of myself and my horrible posture. Bless my parents for trying to put me in ballet classes when I was younger to fix it, but let's face it D cup breasts are no joke to hold up day in and day out. So how about if I sat upright at least at the dinner table, even if I hunch over my computer for 8 hours a day? Or if we made small adjustments in public for holding doors open, helping someone cross the street or not slurping soup or cereal just because you are in a hurry. This whole "go go go" atmosphere has really been a hinderance to the civilized society we are supposedly living in. Bringing a host gift to a party or making sure there is a vegetarian option for your guests or calling someone a cab are such small nuances that are lost in today's "to each his own" world. Let's all please take a moment a day to think of how we can be a classier version of ourselves, may it mean social graces or table manners, but just one item a day in which we improve how we conduct ourselves. Thanks.
Riddle me this batman (and don't act like this doesn't happen to you at least once a month) Friend A wants to hang out this Friday night, sure why not?! Friend B whom you either like better or haven't seen in a longer time, tells you a day later that they want to hang out Friday night. What is the "proper" thing to do? Now, I know we would all handle this situation differently. Any way we can all hang out? Can you reschedule with Friend A, or do you just suck it up and reschedule with B, etc etc. Yes I know, these are not earth shattering problems nor am I trying to solve world hunger, however I think we are in social predicaments daily and many people just don't have the common sense on how to act and react.
Manners aren't simple "pleases" and "thank yous" we need to worry about, but are about RSVPing to a wedding in a timely manner so the bride who has 9,000 other dilemmas to deal with can do the seating chart for your table? Or how about something as small as not eavesdropping on private conversations. (Which happens more often than not, which I also think stems from the stalking culture, social media has developed...blog for another day though).
Anyway, little changes that we can make in our daily habits and routines will probably make us more refined individuals. I speak of myself and my horrible posture. Bless my parents for trying to put me in ballet classes when I was younger to fix it, but let's face it D cup breasts are no joke to hold up day in and day out. So how about if I sat upright at least at the dinner table, even if I hunch over my computer for 8 hours a day? Or if we made small adjustments in public for holding doors open, helping someone cross the street or not slurping soup or cereal just because you are in a hurry. This whole "go go go" atmosphere has really been a hinderance to the civilized society we are supposedly living in. Bringing a host gift to a party or making sure there is a vegetarian option for your guests or calling someone a cab are such small nuances that are lost in today's "to each his own" world. Let's all please take a moment a day to think of how we can be a classier version of ourselves, may it mean social graces or table manners, but just one item a day in which we improve how we conduct ourselves. Thanks.
