Filed under: Daily Life | Tags: amazon, book, choosing, civil, civility, happy, health, healthy, manners, other people, others, p m forni, polite
My aunt from America recently sent me a book entitled ‘Choosing Civility’ by Dr P. M. Forni. This is one of the most extraordinary books I’ve read, presenting one of the most convincing arguments as to why we should be civil, polite and well-mannered to one and other. Happiness and health. I can’t explain the whole argument here in this blog (go and buy the book) but Dr Forni argues that by being civil and friendly to everyone it improves your well-being as it makes you feel good; it rewards you. Nothing else in the world can really do that. You may choose to be selfish and ignore the views and feelings of others, but does that, long-term, make you really happy and healthy?
‘Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct’ by Dr P. M. Forni. Available to buy on Amazon.
Filed under: Daily Life | Tags: bus, buses, manchester, public transport, seats, travel
I had an email sent in earlier in the week asking what the correct etiquette is on buses. Do the old rules of giving up your seat for the elderly and pregnant ladies still hold in 21st century Britain (yes, they do).
‘Seat hogging’ is to be avoided. If you really want the aisle seat (perhaps you are 6.7 feet and need the legroom, don’t refuse to move up, simply get up and say “I’m sorry, do you mind going by the window, I need the speace for my legs?”. In a majority of cases the other person won’t mind. If they do, just concede gracefully. Not everyone is as polite as you.
If someone gives up their seat for you it either means they think you’re eldery or pregnant. If you’re not pregnant but look it, don’t bark and scold them, however insulted you may feel. Simply say “Don’t worry, I don’t need it”. If someone does give up their seat for you, quite reasonably (ie you are elderly or pregnant), do make sure you thank them. Now that I’m a student in Manchester, I use the bus nearly everyday. The other week an eldery lady got on the bus and the lady on the seat the other side of the aisle and I both stood at the same time. The other lady was, I’d guess, around 50, so I said, “Don’t worry, this lady [the elderly lady] can have my seat. You stay there.” The elderly lady, instead of acknoledging or thanking either of us, simply barked “No, I want that side. I can’t sit there because of my back”. Both the 50-year-old lady and I were quite taken aback.
Above all, remember that a bus is a public place and you will most certainly have to deal with other people. Whilst they may annoy you, smell, shout profanities at the driver, remain calm and level-headed at all times. If you really don’t like buses, you could always walk.
Filed under: Housekeeping, Media | Tags: australia, channel 9, ladette, ladette to lady, lady, manners, television, tv
I can now reveal, to anyone who is remotely interested, that in mid-November I shall be filming for the Australian Channel 9’s new series of ‘Ladette to Lady’. Sadly, we film in Britain and not in Australia. More details of my appearance will appear here once I’ve completed filming. (I can’t post specific details at the moment, sorry.)
Filed under: Daily Life | Tags: cash, credit crunch, dosh, money, pound, telegraph, tipping
Perhaps it’s a little flippant to be giving out etiquette tips on money in the current economic climate, but I was recently asked to do a piece for the Sunday Telegraph on ‘credit crunch etiquette’. Here were my tips about money in general:
1) It’s somewhat vulgar to discuss one’s money anywhere else than in your bank
2) Discussing one’s money in polite conversation can embarrass others, which will put them ill at ease, which is intrinsically bad mannered
3) Tipping: judge the service and context before you tip. 10% is the guideline, but, as things are tight, perhaps 8% for the time being. Every little helps. See here for more on tipping.
Filed under: Daily Life | Tags: easyMobile, mobile phone, mobiles, modern, orange, phone, telephone
As you’ll have seen from my home-page (if you read this at the time the home-page went orange) I’ve teamed up with easyMobile.com to give you the telephone manners guide. Hopefully it gives you some helpful pointers as to fine-tune your telephony skills and patter. For more on the story, see Easy’s website.
