Its Friday and I was thinking.... “The decline of manners, the cynical pursuit without shame or restraint of personal advantage and of money characterizes our times, not without exceptions, of course, but more than we ought to be comfortable with.” ―J. Irwin Miller To get home out in the wilds of West Texas I travel down a two lane farm to market road, or a form of state highway here in Texas. When I prepare to turn onto the county road going to our home I will check to see if there is no oncoming traffic and then I will scoot into the left lane so that those behind me may continue on unencumbered by my slow pace. I do this to be thoughtful and polite and not a little bit to stay alive. Ive had people come screaming up behind my stopped vehicle depspite the fact I have blinkers on and have had in time to give plenty of notice. These folks usually hit the two inches of shoulder and fly into the sandy right of way. I usually get hateful looks for having the audacity to want to go home. I can tell you from experience that hitting soft sand at a high rate of speed usually doesnt end well. However, to date, everyone has managed to wrestle their vehicles back onto the roadway. So I move over if I can and give people room. No one to this day has waved a thank you. Most just speed on by. There was a time in Texas where everyone you met on the roadway waved at you. A friend of mine in Oklahoma told me once he knew why. He had just finished delivering some horse trailer to far West Texas, he said people wave because they are just glad to see another living human being. Hardly anyone waves any longer, unless you cut them off or tailgate them or do some traffic offense, then they wave, but usually with only one finger. This is just one of the signs of a disappearing world of mannerly people. I guess it is signs of a wimp to be polite and exhibit good manners these days. I learned good manners at home from my mother and father. we called everyone Mr. Mrs. or Miss (there wasnt the generic Ms. when I was a youngun). If the older person was a really close family friend we might get to address them by their first name. We certainly did not address someone we just met by firstname and NEVER a teacher. But I think manners are important and should be taught and observed. Just in case anyone under the age of 55 is reading my thoughts, let me give you a primer in manners. Yes, I have manners, I learned them well. My mother did not mind reinforcing the education with a well placed smack. You only ran through the door ahead of her once, especially if you allowed it to slam in her face. I will address this topic in a general male/female relationship. So listen up: Good Manners: Hold the door open, especially for females, older folks, and those with full hands. Acceptable Manners: Hold the door open for females. Bad Manners: Go through the door and dont hold it for anyone. Shooting Offense Manners: Shove folks out of the way and blast through the door Good Manners: Yes Sir; Yes Maam Acceptable Manners: Yes Maam Bad Manners: Yeah ok. Shooting Offense Manners: Bite me! Good Manners: Waiting until the female offers her hand before shaking it. Acceptable Manners: Shaking her hand. Bad Manners: Trying to bring her to her knees by squeezing her hand like rubber ball. Shooting Offense Manners: Grabbing her hand jerking her to you and planting a lip lock on her. Good Manners: Hold the chair out for female and assist her with scooting it up. Acceptable manners: Stay standing until the female is seated. Bad Manners: Sitting down and eating while the female seats herself. Shooting Offense Manners: Pulling the chair out from under her as she attempts to sit. Good Manners: Open the car door for the female, infirm, and elderly. Then shut it when they are securely and comfortably in the car. Acceptable Manners: Open the door and walk on. Bad Manners: Open your own door and leave them standing. Really bad if it is raining. Shooting Offense Manners: Jump in the car and drive off stranding the female. Good Manners: Hold the females purse while she shops or whatever. Acceptable Manners: Set the purse by your feet and keep a sharp eye on it. Bad Manners: Ask her if she has lost her mind. Shooting Offense Manners: Rifle through the purse for money, abandon it and go for beer. Good Manners: Accompany the female while she is shopping for distinctively female unmentionables. Acceptable Manners: Politely wait for her in the aisle alongside this female section of the store. Bad Manners: Laugh out loud every time she picks up a piece. Shooting Offense Manners: Trying on the garments yourself. Good Manners: Stand when a female enters the room. Acceptable Manners: Acknowledge her entrance with a nice greeting. Bad Manners: Sup Shooting Offense Manners: Hey! While youre up, get us all a beer. Good Manners: Remove your hat when entering a home anytime, always at a meal, or a building in mixed company. Acceptable Manners: Remove your hat when entering a home and at meals. Bad Manners: Wearing your hat at all times. Shooting Offense Manners: Wearing your hat at intimate times. Good Manners: Offering your arm to the female you are escorting. Acceptable Manners: Taking her hand and helping her out of a vehicle or up a step. Bad Manners: Making her walk behind you. Shooting Offense Manners: Throw her over your shoulder and move on. And listen, when someone is nice, polite, exhibits good manners, acknowledge it. (I am guilty here too, so Im not preaching). When someone says thank you, say youre welcome, not no problem or you betcha or sure thing. Youre welcome is the correct response. When someone calls you Sir or Mam, dont admonish them. Its okay for a Marine DI to scold a boot for calling him sir by telling him DONT CALL ME SIR SNOTFACE, I WORK FOR A LIVING!!!! Chances are you arent a DI. Accept the good manners, it is a sign of respect. If I dont want someone to call me Mr. Wardlow I generally say Thank you, but you can call me Jack. It is infuriating for people Ive never met, salespeople are the worst, who address me as if we have conquered the world together. When someone exhibits good manners, show your own and be graceful. Well anyway, I hope you get the message. In short, be kind to the other person. Allow someone on the elevator first, hold the elevator door, help someone struggling with a load, take the time to be nice.It might make all the difference to someone. Once you have mastered having good manners you can pass them along. This will make a nicer world. It just takes a little time, effort, and desire to make this a much nicer world. It does not hurt to learn good manners which will stay with you, as Mama Wardlow has told her children and grandchildren: Good manners are never forgotten. Have a great weekend.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 12:50:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015