Posted on 11/10/2005 8:06:01 AM PST by Mike Bates
When it comes to bad manners, today's society is pretty much a hopeless case, author Lynne Truss says.
That didn't stop her front ranting about it in her latest book, "Talk to the Hand," a self-described "moral homily" that attacks rudeness the same way she critiqued bad punctuation in her 2003 best-seller "Eats, Shoots & Leaves."
"Please" and "thank you" are endangered in the public discourse, she writes in her new work, increasingly drowned out by inane mobile phone chatter, dismal customer service and the vulgar epithet she writes as "Eff Off."
"I say in the book that I have a flame of hope (that manners will improve) but it's very, very, very small," she told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday, the day after her book came out.
"Eats, Shoots & Leaves" sold 3 million copies worldwide, its publisher said. Seizing on that success, Gotham Books has rushed out "Talk to the Hand," which Truss calls "a big, systematic moan about modern life."
The New York Times called it "a thin and crabby diatribe" in a book review, adding, "The author may have been good for only one book-length conniption."
In any case Truss said writing her 206-page rant was therapeutic.
"It really, really made me feel better," she said. "I don't know whether I've just dumped it all onto my readers, which could be the case. I may have made everybody else feel bad in the process but I've made myself feel much better."
Gee, I hadn't noticed.
I always say "thank you", but no one says "you're welcome".
The new response is "no problem". (Is that only in Texas?) Que nada.
I agree with "please" and "thank you" becoming less and less prevalent.
I seem to hear a lot of "I want", "Give me this/that", etc. Saying please and thank you is so easy, and not saying it is lazy and thoughtless.
This from the employers of Maureen Dowd.
Was this an anomaly, or do we just need to get away from "rat race" from time to time.
I was involved in a conversation just last night about manners, actually the lack of, in so many people anymore.
One older gentlemen was particularly concerned about the noticeable lack of them in children and being the mother of a 7 year old, I had no choice but to agree with him. My child is no angel, but we have tried to instill in her at least some semblance of manners, and while she is pretty good about it, she does have her lapses.
Having lived in Virginia for less than 3 years I have to say the vast majority of folks are polite, hospitable, and warm and welcoming.
Having lived in KY, I learned that "please" has two meanings. The traditional meaning, when asking for something.
And the second meaning which translates into "Pardon?" or... "Could you please repeat?"
There's still some Southern Hospitality left, but it's fading fast. Glad you got to experience it before it's gone...
I've noticed cashiers opting for "There you go" when giving change. Reminds me of McCloud, not to date myself.
Yes and yes.
Small children have an excuse. Adults don't. Good for you for working with your child on this.
Many people think that good manners are inherent -- that children are inherently polite, when in fact it is the opposite that is clearly and demonstrably the case: Children (and many adults) need to be taught good manners.
Our local grocery store chains are fiercely competitive for loyal shoppers. Consequently any opportunity for the cashiers to properly "count out" your change return is performed. Talk about refreshing!
Yes. Everywhere else it's, "Whatever".
She must trying to take Maureen Dowd's job of writing a "a thin and crabby diatribe" a couple times a week.
My children spent many months in their uncle's home. He taught them dubious table manners. His heart was in the right place, but it truly can be said that he did them a disservice. Now I'm trying to retrain them. THIS is harder than starting from scratch.
ping
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