Five Basic Rules of Etiquette
Say ‘Excuse Me’....
Or use your turn signal, which is the vehicular version of saying excuse me. Saying excuse me does not count if you have already shoved past someone. This is not rocket science, people. The correct word to use, if the above should happen, would be ‘sorry’.
7 Table Manners Do's & Don'ts | Good Manners
'Thank You' and 'You’re Welcome' Never Go Out of Style....
‘Give thanks in all circumstances’.[1] These simple words not only show respect for the person you are talking with, they also mark you as a person with manners - it is just plain polite.
And while we are on the subject of saying thank you, thank you is equally important to use at the drive though and with mini-mart attendants. A person's manners are defined by how they treat those that are not in a position to defend themselves.
Basic Table Manners Are A Necessity....
For the average person, it is not important that you know which fork to use, or which direction to spoon your soup. What is important is simple things like eating with your mouth shut, not talking with your mouth full, and using your napkin to wipe your face (not your shirt). Also important, depending on who you are eating with, is not burping/farting and/or talking about bodily functions and bugs.
Clean Up After Yourself!
This cannot be stressed enough; if you drop something, pick it up. If you throw something away, and it misses the trashcan, then you pick it up again. This includes cigarette butts, gum, miscellaneous trash, and any food items that might be biodegradable but makes the area look messy (like orange peels). When you leave your garbage for other people to look at and/or clean up, you are showing your absolute, selfish disregard for anyone other than yourself.
And, while we are on this subject, cleaning up after other people will not kill you. If you are reading this, and you hear yourself saying 'but I did not make the mess', then congratulations, you sound just like a teenager, it is time to take a grown up pill.
Pet Peeves
Which, of the above mentioned forms of rudeness, annoys you the most?
Listen, Without Interrupting.
You never know, you might learn something new. However, whether you learn something new or not, you will show the world that you understand that you are not the center of the universe, and can occasionally put your own needs (for attention or acceptance) aside when it's necessary.
[1] 1 Thessalonians 5:18
