The American Demise* - The Deterioration of Human Propriety

*sounds like a band hehe

OK my little galleons let me give you the stitch on what I like to call COMMON KNOWLEDGE. But, it turns out that being courteous is a learned and acquired characteristic. I just always thought that being polite never hurt anyone…

Etiquette 101

Abandon or Trash?

One thing that always astonishes me is when eating out at a fast-food/self-serve restaurant, after people finish their meal... they freaking leave their leftovers/trash on the table. OK... WTF? Do people not know what that container labeled with the word, "TRASH" is for? What I don't understand is that the majority of people do it. I mean was there some kind of memo I missed that read to leave my trash behind for someone to clean? I understand when you're being served, that you're supposed to leave your plates, napkins, etc for the server to clean, but at a place like...McDonald's for example... You're supposed to clean up after yourself, right? I just don't see any logic in the concept of this sequence:

1. Line up and order your own food
2. dispense your own beverage and refills
3. retrieve your own condiments, utensils, napkins, etc
4. eat your meal at your own pace
5. if any additional items are needed, you get them yourself
6. after you're all finished... just get up and leave your mess behind for someone else to clean up
7. and then... not tip
   

*Please notice the problems in red...

Someone please tell me... Is my thinking incorrect or is everyone ill advised?

*****

Don't Just Hold the Phone

Another thing that I ALWAYS do is before opening a door I make sure no one is coming out or coming in behind me. If there is a person coming or going I follow these situations:

1. I always hold open the door and let the person leaving, exit first
2. Open the door and go through and make sure the door is still open for the person behind me
3. Or an exception of course is if the person behind me is an elder or is somewhat physically challenged, I open the door and let them through first and then follow behind.

The downside of all this is sometimes people insist that I go first and we have a mini "politeness" battle or I end up opening the door and then am stuck holding open the door for twenty people, but either way at least I know I did my part.

On a rare occasion where a door is opened for me... I am adamant to make sure that I thank the person for doing so. Surprisingly enough, I don't get much gracious feedback when I open doors for people. You would think I would be banking on the "good karma," but it turns out it's the exact opposite. Here's another classic I have in my repertoire:

~ This story is dedicated to my friend, Erin-Chan, who can "robot" out of any situation... ~

So, thinking of holding open doors... One instance that comes to mind is holding an elevator. OK I'll admit that elevators are kinda tricky. If I see someone coming I stick my hand between the doors and try to keep it open as long as I can before it looks like the doors are about to smash my fingers....most of the time the elevator sensors suck. Or, of course, if I have enough time to decipher the hieroglyphic buttons of what means open or close... I'll hold down the corresponding button.


I try my best to hold the elevator, but my efforts aren't always successful. So, aside from my lengthy "fluff" of an introduction.... A few years back, I was running toward a closing elevator with my hands full of textbooks, trying to beat the slow shutting doors... and I make eye-contact with the guy in the elevator and he immediately starts pressing a button repeatedly. As I'm somewhat sprinting to the elevator I'm thanking the guy for trying to hold the elevator. Miraculously, I make it and slip through the small crack to get inside. Catching my breath, I open my mouth to thank him again and then... I notice that he was pressing the CLOSE BUTTON the whole time!! I rearranged the books in my hand, scoffed, and then gave him a look that read, "Uh, huh... You didn't think I was going to make it did you?" I bet that was the longest elevator ride of two floors that guy has ever ridden on... *sigh* Tisk Tisk... some people... On a somewhat different elevator topic... Why is it that every time I'm waiting for the elevator and I've already pressed the button to call the elevator and it's obviously lit... a person comes up waits a second for the elevator beside me and then goes over and represses the lit button? Are people really making sure if I did it correctly? I mean c'mon... I may look like I don't speak English all that well, but I think I can figure out what's up and down...

*******

A few quick one-liners...

• Is it really that much more effort to flush after business?
• Do guys not give up their seats for ladies anymore?
• Why are most people the rudest to "customer service" employees? i.e. servers, cashiers, greeters, etc...
• Do dropping trays or plates really deserve an ovation?
  
• When returning something... why does the person always ask for a reason?

*REMINDER*
There can never be too many "please(s)" and "thank you(s)" in this world.

FIN

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