All hope is not lost

[Miss Neecerie]

Today while driving home, I had a moment of hope for the universe of manners.

I was at a signal waiting for light to change. A very young (High School) couple crossed the street holding hands, and then ended up on the street parallel to my car, and the second they did this, the young man moved his young lady to the -other- side of him, so that he could be on the road-side of them as they walked along the sidewalk.

I smiled, and was cheered immensely that at least a few men in California might yet still be getting taught manners.

 

[Brinybay]

Maybe he had hearing problems and was simply moving her to his good ear side...

 

[OldSoul]

He probably saw a homeless person coming up the street and wanted to be as far away as possible

naw, I'm kidding. That is pretty cool though, you don't see many manners these days (I'm only 22, scary to think I already complain about these things.)

I was @ the movie theater the other night and while we were standing in line, my buddies got into a little bit of an argument that ended with one of them telling the other to 'shut up you f*****g a**hole'. Now, I don't really care if people swear at an appropriate time, but considering there were older people around as well as children, I turned and told them both to shut up and mind their language. They looked at me like I was nuts, the mother in front of me looked at me like I was at the very least a decent human being

 

[Mike in Seattle]

It just proves, Miss N, that chivalry is still alive, and every now and then the younger generation surprises us.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

It just proves, Miss N, that chivalry is still alive, and every now and then the younger generation surprises us.

Indeed indeed. Some other recent experiences have also reminded me that chivalry had not died. I just sometimes think it moved -out- of Los Angeles a long time ago.

 

[Tomasso]

a few men in California might yet still be getting taught manners.

It's quite possible that his school teaches a mandatory etiquette class. My school did (probably still does) and my children's school does today.

It's important for a young man to learn proper manners because, as Oscar Wilde said,"A true gentleman is one who is never unintentionally rude."

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

My grandfather taught me to do this some years ago,and it stuck.

 

[StaceFace]

My husband does this every time we go out walking. I don't think he sees it as chivalry, he just says he'd rather him be hit by a rogue car than me [huh] But I suppose he passes!

 

[KY Gentleman]

I see instances of young people using manners more often than one might expect. I regularly get addressed as "sir" or "mister" and I often hear "please" and "thank you". I guess there IS still hope, Miss N!

 

[carter]

I'm glad to see that chivalry is still being practiced as Miss Neecerie has observed. If not in full bloom, it is in bud. I have taught my son and daughter that a gentleman always places himself between a lady and any potential hazard. Along with opening doors, waiting to be seated, and the tipping or removal of one's hat, this should be a basic element of gentlemanly behavior. What we teach our children, they will, hopefully, pass on to theirs. :fing28:

 

[Edward]

My mother drilled these sorts of etiquette behaviours into my brother and me from as far back as I can remember. I'm not sure how far now I do the 'rhgit thing' in that sense as a choice or a Pavlovian response, but I do persevere with it as it simply seems 'proper' by now. Most women appreciate it, though there was noe ex-girlfriend who used to roll her eyes and express a ish that I could be "normal." That should have been a sign ... lol

 

[der schneider]

I think I was raised right I open doors, put a lady on the proper side and all but it is getting harder to find women that understand or apprieciate that sort of thing

 

[Joie DeVive]

My husband wasn't raised with those kind of manners, and had never seen the gentleman insist on taking the outside before he saw my father do that when walking with me. He asked why he had switched sides with me and was so impressed that he adopted the behavior immediately and does it all the time now.

I also recently saw a young buck open the car door for his sweetheart in a Target parking lot. Maybe manners are coming back!

 

[B. F. Socaspi]

The walking on the outside of the road works for me. But if I ever use "sir" or "mam" when addressing someone under the age of 60 or so, I get glares and the occasional "How old do you think I am?!".

 

[Paisley]

As I recall, men put themselves between the street and a lady to protect the lady from out-of-control horses. Not the etiquette needs a practical purpose. I admire good manners as much as the next person, but I think I'd find this particular practice affected in this day and age.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

As I recall, men put themselves between the street and a lady to protect the lady from out-of-control horses. Not the etiquette needs a practical purpose. I admire good manners as much as the next person, but I think I'd find this particular practice affected in this day and age.

Out of control horses...out of control cars....being splashed by a car driving by a puddle.......still all work for me....

 

[B. F. Socaspi]

Out of control horses...out of control cars....being splashed by a car driving by a puddle.......still all work for me....

I'd agree.

It's not even manners. I was never taught it. It's logical. More logical than out of control horses, I think, since there's 250 of them packed into more than a ton of steel.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

and don't get me wrong...I do not -expect- the man to throw himself in front of speeding cars to save me....

I would just be -charmed- if he thought of being on that side himself.

Much like being charmed by gentlemen who stand up when a lady rises from the table mid-meal.....

 

[Diamondback]

Would you say a "loose deuce" works for this? (Basically, it means on the roadward side and about 1-3 steps behind, like the wingman in a fighter formation.)

----------------
Now playing: John Williams - Scherzo For Motorcycle And Orchestra
via FoxyTunes

 

[Foofoogal]

lol lol lol

Before you know it, these belles start to like the idea of wash-and-wear hair and throwing away their eyeliner. They even open their own car doors and pretend that "red eye" refers to a late-night plane flight and not a gravy that goes with ham.

this thread made me think of this Southern Belle rules. So, so true....

http://www.geocities.com/southernbelle27203/belle.html

I do not -expect- the man to throw himself in front of speeding cars to save me....

I kind of do and know some men that would expect to do that if duty ever called. Ingrained in one.