When people go out of their way to tell me how polite my kids are, it's a feather in my cap. They can be as rude as they want at home (only once, and with consequences for doing so, of course) but in public, I cannot imagine my kids acting like some I see in the stores and other public places. I secretly scolded a child of my friend one time when we were away on vacation. He was so extremely rude to her and she took it and walked away. I leaned in with my meanest face and got real close, then whispered in my meanest voice, "Don't you ever let me see you talking to one of your parents like that again". Then I smiled and walked away. He didn't do it for the rest of the trip but he still grew up to be an adult jerk. Polite begins at home.
I am almost always polite. I don't subscribe to the philosophy of being polite to rude, offensive people. The "kill them with kindness" doesn't take hold with me. I have other things in mind for those people.
Fifteen years is a joke. The simple fact is Trump is selling out the Ukrainians in deference to a madman. It won't matter though. I give Putin 6 months before he runs tanks through Kiev. Now that the U.S. has wimped out of this situation we are taking odds on which innocent country Putin attacks next. He's been empowered by Trump's unwillingness to confine him. The sad part is Trump will claim credit for "ending" the war.
Wonderful and uplifting Bill. I'd like to add that being polite also makes the person doing it feel good, encouraging more polite acts. Happy Holidays and Thank You.
Y’all already know that I’m old as dirt and raised in the South where we were taught from the birth canal to say please and thank you, to speak when spoken to, don’t interrupt, to sit and listen and always be polite. I wasn’t hammered all that much over using “ma’am” or “sir” but manners were essential to the civilizing of potential monsters. When my husband and I had our two boys, they were raised with manners as well; modified a bit for the times but always to consider others before oneself. As my second husband said later, “Teach your children with love now so that others won’t be teaching them with hate later.” Maybe something to still keep in mind. Then when you have done your best by them, slowly allowing more freedom as they mature, let them off the leash to live and learn their own life lessons. Being polite goes everywhere you want to go; like MasterCard or Visa. I think that is why so many of us are taken aback and are so disappointed in all the vulgar, hostile actions happening in the public sphere now.
I was born, raised and educated in Canada, and moved to the US at the age of 31, moved back to Canada, again moved back to the US. Now, in my early retirement, I live on both sides of the border. Saying "sorry", "please", "thank you" is still second nature, and some people identify me as Canadian as a result. I'm still learning to deal with people who are rude, disrespectful and impolite.
One trick that I learned (from an Englishman living in France) was to ask people for a favour, even though the task is their job. For example, I was given the wrong drink in a Starbucks (the drink was made incorrectly). I approached the nearest staff member, who was probably the store manager. "Can you do me a favour?" I asked. "Sure" she replied. "I know that you are very busy, but my understanding is that the drink that I ordered is made differently than how it was made." I was quickly given a correct drink, with an apology and a smile. "Thanks" I said, "you have been very helpful." I may have been the most polite customer in the store that day.
By the time I'm being impolite I'm no longer asking for anything. Often times it means there was a failure and there's no fixing it. And that failure feels real and bad on my part and that needs to come across somehow.
I’ll always remember one of my niece’s little boys asking her for something he wanted very badly. Afraid just one wouldn’t do, he asked, Please Mom, please and thank you?”
I was a Navy Junior so Sir, Ma’am, Please and Thank you were foundational. Two of my nephews raised their kids this way and sadly, it stands out. My younger grandkids are now being raised to say please and thank you and it also really stands out. All of which is pretty sad in my view.
Thank you. Happy New Year.
Proper grammar and polite language are FREE and make all the difference.
I try to always be polite. Sometimes it can be sooo difficult, especially on comment boards. In person is effortless!
"Thank you for your attention to this matter." - love it....lol Happy New Year to you and yours!
When people go out of their way to tell me how polite my kids are, it's a feather in my cap. They can be as rude as they want at home (only once, and with consequences for doing so, of course) but in public, I cannot imagine my kids acting like some I see in the stores and other public places. I secretly scolded a child of my friend one time when we were away on vacation. He was so extremely rude to her and she took it and walked away. I leaned in with my meanest face and got real close, then whispered in my meanest voice, "Don't you ever let me see you talking to one of your parents like that again". Then I smiled and walked away. He didn't do it for the rest of the trip but he still grew up to be an adult jerk. Polite begins at home.
I am almost always polite. I don't subscribe to the philosophy of being polite to rude, offensive people. The "kill them with kindness" doesn't take hold with me. I have other things in mind for those people.
Fifteen years is a joke. The simple fact is Trump is selling out the Ukrainians in deference to a madman. It won't matter though. I give Putin 6 months before he runs tanks through Kiev. Now that the U.S. has wimped out of this situation we are taking odds on which innocent country Putin attacks next. He's been empowered by Trump's unwillingness to confine him. The sad part is Trump will claim credit for "ending" the war.
Happy New Year one and all.
This was LOVELY. And re-used (I remember it)! Totally sustainable!! And RIGHT.
Thank you.
;-D
Your column has been a highlight of my day since it began...and before that...on the pages of Inc. Thank you!
Wonderful and uplifting Bill. I'd like to add that being polite also makes the person doing it feel good, encouraging more polite acts. Happy Holidays and Thank You.
Y’all already know that I’m old as dirt and raised in the South where we were taught from the birth canal to say please and thank you, to speak when spoken to, don’t interrupt, to sit and listen and always be polite. I wasn’t hammered all that much over using “ma’am” or “sir” but manners were essential to the civilizing of potential monsters. When my husband and I had our two boys, they were raised with manners as well; modified a bit for the times but always to consider others before oneself. As my second husband said later, “Teach your children with love now so that others won’t be teaching them with hate later.” Maybe something to still keep in mind. Then when you have done your best by them, slowly allowing more freedom as they mature, let them off the leash to live and learn their own life lessons. Being polite goes everywhere you want to go; like MasterCard or Visa. I think that is why so many of us are taken aback and are so disappointed in all the vulgar, hostile actions happening in the public sphere now.
I was born, raised and educated in Canada, and moved to the US at the age of 31, moved back to Canada, again moved back to the US. Now, in my early retirement, I live on both sides of the border. Saying "sorry", "please", "thank you" is still second nature, and some people identify me as Canadian as a result. I'm still learning to deal with people who are rude, disrespectful and impolite.
One trick that I learned (from an Englishman living in France) was to ask people for a favour, even though the task is their job. For example, I was given the wrong drink in a Starbucks (the drink was made incorrectly). I approached the nearest staff member, who was probably the store manager. "Can you do me a favour?" I asked. "Sure" she replied. "I know that you are very busy, but my understanding is that the drink that I ordered is made differently than how it was made." I was quickly given a correct drink, with an apology and a smile. "Thanks" I said, "you have been very helpful." I may have been the most polite customer in the store that day.
By the time I'm being impolite I'm no longer asking for anything. Often times it means there was a failure and there's no fixing it. And that failure feels real and bad on my part and that needs to come across somehow.
I’ll always remember one of my niece’s little boys asking her for something he wanted very badly. Afraid just one wouldn’t do, he asked, Please Mom, please and thank you?”
I was a Navy Junior so Sir, Ma’am, Please and Thank you were foundational. Two of my nephews raised their kids this way and sadly, it stands out. My younger grandkids are now being raised to say please and thank you and it also really stands out. All of which is pretty sad in my view.