Etiquette Books for an Age Without Rules (P.J. O'Rourke Reviews 3 new etiquette books)

N.Y. Times online ^ | March 24, 2002 | P. J. O'ROURKE

[eddie willers]

Other than the rich, witty, famous and good-looking parts, PJ's and my life are eerily similar.

[weikel]

Ettiquette is for effeminate pansies.

[GeronL]

I think PJ O'Rourke is the best humor/satirist since Mark Twain

[weikel]

The man on the right does not read ettiquette books.

[Jay W]

The man on the right does not read ettiquette books.

Only because no one has yet written "The Fabulous Sergeant's Guide to Decorum".... ;-)

[weikel]

LOL I would buy an ettiquette book written by him I want to learn how to come up with profanities that good.

[boris]

But he doesn't get invited to High Tea, either.

[Cicero]

Everyone laughs at etiquette, but in fact it's a serious business. As Miss Manners points out in a classic article in First Things, if you don't have manners, then you must micromanage everyone with laws. Then you get the tobacco police, and the hate-crime police, and all the rest of the dismal PC nonsense we are afflicted with. How much better it would be if we could just be polite to one another.

For an excellent read on this subject, see http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9305/articles/martin.html.

[eddie willers]

I think PJ O'Rourke is the best humor/satirist since Mark Twain

He was funny as a Lib (National Lampoon) and is funny as a conservative.(Parliment of Whores et al)

[Jakarta ex-pat]

"How much better it would be if we could just be polite to one another."

I don't know.

Does that include my students?

[strela]

Robert A. Heinlein already told us everything we need to know about etiquette:

"An armed society is a polite society."

[GeronL]

I have Parliament now, funny guy. I think I might have 2 books of his, but I might given one away hhhmmmm

[ward_of_the_state]

You, the great Groucho Marx once said, "I wouldn't belong to any group that would have me."

[eddie willers]

As Miss Manners points out in a classic article in First Things, if you don't have manners, then you must micromanage everyone with laws.

Hmmmm...interesting.
In the early 70's I was interviewed by a headhunter who mentioned that the company liked to hire young men from the South. (and this for a national position that only required being close to a major airport).

Curious, I asked him "Why?".
He said, (in all seriousness) "Because we don't have to teach them manners".

Unfortunately this has probably changed.
(Not the need for manners...but the humble source)

[snopercod]

From a different age:

THE COUNTRY HOUSE AND ITS HOSPITALITY

by Emily Post c1945

"The difference between the great house of a few years ago with its twenty to fifty guest rooms, all numbered like the rooms in a hotel, and the farmhouse or small cottage which has but one "best" spare chamber is much the same as the difference between the elaborate and simple wedding--one merely of degree, and not of kind.

In other words, all people of good taste follow the same standard pattern of living, no matter whether it is followed intact or must be greatly adjusted to fit personal needs. Ill-mannered servants, incorrect liveries or service, sloppily served food, carelessness in any of the detalis that to fastidious people constitute the well-run house are no more tolerated in the smallest cottage (even though it be that of Mrs. Three-in-One who has no one to wait on her but herself) than in the palace. But, because the largest housed are those which not only establish the complete pattern but challenge most criticism, suppose we begin our detailed description with them."

House Party of Many Guests

"A week end means from Friday afternoon or from Saturday lunch to Monday morning. Everyone arrives about five o'clock on Friday or on saturday at lunch time. Many come in their own cars; others are met at the station.

"No hostess should fail to send a car to the station or boat-landing for everyone expected. If she has no conveyance of her own, she must order public ones and have the fares charged to herself.

"If she is staying home to welcome those coming by motor, she tells her chauffeur whom he is to meet--or she describes them to the garage chauffeur, so that each one is greeted by name...

[Judith Anne]

Good post! I really enjoy Miss Manners, she's terrific. I got the Guide for Raising Perfect Children for my sister, she swears by it.

[johnny7]

Samuel Colt knew all about manners.

[Anoy11_]

Hey I agree with the martini thing. a martini is a drink not a type of drink. a martini has gin and vermouth. the gin is understood. I will allow for a vodka martini, but the vodka must be expressed. now a martini is not a type of drink! there are no such things as martini drinks!!! a cosmo is not a martini drink!!! a cosmo is a cosmo. and in my book of manners a man doesn't drink one. If i see a man drinking a cosmo it correct to assume he is a flit. ok? ok. thanks and have a nice day. anoy11

[petuniasevan]