7ryMJjyBMgowKMZdQ~~_7.JPG "cee-dee"){kind=avatar}
Do you use a knife and fork to eat with and if so do you place the fork in the right hand prongs upright and shovel food into your mouth?
Do you open a door for someone, perhaps as a gent you open the car door for a Lady. When you see an elderly person on public transport would you offer them your seat?
It seems that as a nation we are abandoning tradition, giving up being courteous and practicing what were considered to be good table manners, it was suggested widely in the media last year that as many as 30% of under 20s cannot use a knife and fork. Does it matter? or is it progress.
A young couple were in the throes of teaching their child to eat properly and had bought one of these specially shaped cutlery sets to make early learning easier. Unfortunately in this particular instance they went into a restaurant and gave their order not realising they'd left the lad's cutlery set at home. It was a fairly crowded restaurant with people talking quietly. Much to the waiter's horror this kid with a very heavy Glaswegian accent demanded in a most boorish manner: "Where's may fok 'n' nayfe?" - "Where's my fork and knife?" The waiter fled after he demanded an answer! The restaurant fell silent until somebody guffawed which was then followed by an eruption of laughter. They fled without waiting for their food! 
The one thing that makes me climb up the wall is when I see a policeman walking on the wrong side of a policewoman showing both of them lacking in etiquette. It's bad enough seeing "normal" people do it. Unless you're on the contenant you ALWAYS walk on the outside of the lady. This stems from the 18th. century where roads were little more than muddy tracks where a passing horse and carriage would splash you more than your lady. Another thing I always do is stand up as a lady enters the room. I will also remove my cap and stand to attention at the side of the road out of respect if I see a funeral cortage pass by.
I once read a book on etiquette which had me in fits of laughter concerning the chance meeting of a lady in public - the slight raising of the hat. What had me rolling in the aisles was the part where it said: "However if one happens to see one's servants carrying out their duties, no such formality is required - a cursory nod will suffice." "Know thy place, servant!" ROTF!!!
5129frederick wrote:
Unless you're on the contenant you ALWAYS walk on the outside of the lady. This stems from the 18th. century where roads were little more than muddy tracks where a passing horse and carriage would splash you more than your lady.
Keep up the good work. 
and useless tax-wasting Councils. Oh and the inconsiderate *-*-*-* who thinks it's hilarious.
Still, at least it's not muddy!
Some of it is based on common sense. The tilting of a bowl of soup stems from the days of the tall ships. By tilting the bowl away frokm you. if the boat lurched it wouldn't go all over you, but on to the table.
On a spiral staircase, your good lady takes the inside steps while you take the outside. This way she walks less distance than you and if you wish to kiss a lady's hand when introduced, never, EVER, kiss the back of her hand. This is NOT etiquette - one kisses the lady's fingers between the knuckle and the first joint. That is how it is done correctly. If you meet up with a colleague at a banquet and wish to take his wife round a floor. ask permission first. "Archibald, with your permission, may I take your good wife round the floor?" And after having taken her for a dance or two, you then accompany her back to her seat, say "Thank you" and acknowlege her husband with a slight nod.
And if you've offended her or he has offended you, you wait until after the ball is over,
go outside and then proceed to knock seven bells out of one another! Even if you want to, you don't pus the boot in - It's not cricket!
But is there such a thing as good manners and etiquette on places like here?
In RL, if someone speaks to you, do you walk off and totally ignore them? Here, you specifically reply to either a persons question or comments and what do they do? Often, they completely ignore what you've said.
I think we're all guilty of that at times, CeeDee.
I remember not too long ago, I can't remember which thread it was, but you and Archie were changing the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody.
I thought I'd get into the spirit of it (like you do) and added my own customised verse only for my effort to be completely ignored.
I'm sure you didn't do it on purpose but it did make me feel like a right fool (not that I'm still holding a grudge or anything) 
It's very quiet and self-conscious on here these days. It's more like a message board than a chat board sometimes.
Maybe we should all try to make more effort to acknowledge each other's contributions especially OPs of threads.
To not do so is kinda like throwing a party, inviting loads of people and then only thanking some of your guests for turning up.
We don't have to comment on every post necessarily but it wouldn't hurt to give a quick kudo to the ones we don't respond to just as a way of saying 'No you haven't suddenly been rendered invisible. I have read your post and even though I don't have anything to add to it at this moment in time, I do appreciate you taking the time to respond to my thread'.
I kinda was posting directly to you, CeeDee in that instance but I completely agree with what you are saying.
In a real life, face to face situation, that would never happen. It would come across as very rude.
I don't think anyone deliberately ignores anyone else's posts (ok maybe sometimes LOL) it just is what it is I suppose.
I have to go out now so don't think I'm ignoring you if I don't respond
Back later x
@*.*..lola..*.* wrote:I kinda was posting directly to you, CeeDee in that instance but I completely agree with what you are saying.
In a real life, face to face situation, that would never happen. It would come across as very rude.
I don't think anyone deliberately ignores anyone else's posts (ok maybe sometimes LOL) it just is what it is I suppose.
I have to go out now so don't think I'm ignoring you if I don't respond
Back later x
Where boards like this are concerned I think many like to think that manners don't matter as it is only cyber speak.
I say who ever you converse with, whether it be face to face or via the lnternet, respect for one another should be paramount. Sadly though, (and I have noticed many long-term posters on here) grossly guilty of lack of respect, especially those who like to point out to others their lack of.
Practice what you preach in my book is far the best way.
I also think that some can be over sensitive and take things the wrong way, or too personally, the very nature of a discussion board like this makes it inevitable that peoples contributions can get over looked.
As for manners in general, no I don't beleive they are a thing of the past, we have some very well mannered members of the younger generation, that of course because we have had good parenting skills of parents that have seen the importance of being well mannered.
@*.*..lola..*.* wrote:I kinda was posting directly to you, CeeDee in that instance but I completely agree with what you are saying.
In a real life, face to face situation, that would never happen. It would come across as very rude.
I don't think anyone deliberately ignores anyone else's posts (ok maybe sometimes LOL) it just is what it is I suppose.
I have to go out now so don't think I'm ignoring you if I don't respond
Back later x
Where boards like this are concerned I think many like to think that manners don't matter as it is only cyber speak.
I say who ever you converse with, whether it be face to face or via the lnternet, respect for one another should be paramount. Sadly though, (and I have noticed many long-term posters on here) grossly guilty of lack of respect, especially those who like to point out to others their lack of.
Practice what you preach in my book is far the best way.
I also think that some can be over sensitive and take things the wrong way, or too personally, the very nature of a discussion board like this makes it inevitable that peoples contributions can get over looked.
As for manners in general, no I don't beleive they are a thing of the past, we have some very well mannered members of the younger generation, that of is course because we have had good parenting skills of parents that have seen the importance of being well mannered.
