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Why You Should Mind Your Manners
Manners are like fasting: their goodness isn’t readily apparent but you should observe them anyway.
Manners are even better than fasting, though. Fasting improves you. Manners improve you and help other people.
Let’s be honest: most manners make no sense or are anachronistic (based on cultural conditions that don’t apply anymore). Don’t wear your hat indoors. Keep your elbows off the table. Shake hands. They’re normally inconvenient, like saying goodbye to your host when you leave the party or writing and mailing a “thank you” note.
But that’s why they improve you.
You think they’re stupid? Okay, now please put your opinions on the back shelf and take your hat off.
Your (oh so) solid grasp of history tells you elbows don’t go on the table because that’s what low-class sailors did while sailing to keep their plates from falling off the table? Impressive, now admit your kernel of historical knowledge doesn’t control and put your elbows in your pockets.
You don’t see why you should write a “thank you” note, address an envelope, and pay postage because you can put your entire message in a text? You’re perceptive, now admit there might be more than you understand and lick that stamp . . . or I’ll break your texting thumbs.
