[QueenAngie]

"Manners belong to a bygone age; they are no longer relevant."


What do you think about this statement? Is it true or false?


What are your thoughts about ettique?

Do you teach your children manners?

Are table manners important?

What about holding the door for the person behind you,
is that good manners?

Thank you notes, do you think this are something that should or
should not be done?

Please share your thougths on this debate.

[pamperedpeterson]

I don't agree with the statement. Manners are important, but many people choose not to learn about them, have them, or instill these in their children. Please, Thank You, You're Welcome....these are just the start. There are also manners associated with eating, tipping your waiter, driving, gift-giving, etc.
I do try to teach my children manners (and think I do an okay job, too ), and some of them are regional, like saying "Yes ma'am" and such.
Table manners are very important -- why on earth would I want to see what is in someone else's mouth while they're chewing? eewww
I try to hold the door for the person behind me, unless my arms are full of groceries or children.
Thank-you notes are still important, but I think only necessary when it's a formal gift, like a wedding or retirement. Birthday gifts, no; and I think t-y notes for a baby shower are unnecessary, unless the gift was mailed.

[4GiftsfromGod]

false. I think Ettique is very important. Yes I teach my kids how to be kind and polite to others even when others aren’t kind and polite to them. Yes my kids have very good table manners well.. all but grace but we are working on her. Table manners are very important and everyone should have them. Yes holding the door is good manners and I do it if my hands arrant full. . Instead of thank you cards I do thank you videos and DVD’s it a fun and unique way to say thank you.

[QueenAngie]

DH's nephews find it annoying that we (DH, DSs, and I) write thank you notes.

They call me the "Note Aunt."

I do know that they have learning about writing thank you notes from me.

[AudreyOka]

Thank you notes are my weakness. If I can send an email I do it in a heartbeat, getting paper and pen for some reason causes me to procrastinate horribly. So in that area I have not been a great role model for my own kids.

Manners, pleases, verbal thank you's etc are very important. I don't agree with the statement at all.

[TenorD]

I don't agree with the statement, either. And although I'm not perfect with my manners all of the time, I've been raising my children to say "please", "thank you", "excuse me" etc from the minute they were babies.

[MissyChrissy]

I totally believe in manners...and my girls have learned them. They make their own thank-you notes after their birthday parties for all their gifts. They always say please and thank you and such.

There are some "old school" thoughts I do not agree with, and do not teach my kids.

Respect your elders. No. Elders can be wrong too sometimes, and respect is earned. Be polite, use your manners...but never think just because someone is older than you that they are right, or have the right to talk to you like you're crap, or god forbid molest you. Nope, I won't teach that one to my kids.

I do not believe in "following the chain of command" I HATE that. If I have a problem, I've learned that to get stuff done, just go straight to the top. Thankfully, I'm not an over-reactor (in my own opinion, others may disagree with that!). But honestly, I didn't "go to the top" too often at work. Twice in 5 years at a job I hated. No where else. I do it to the school. I contact the superintendent or principal. If they don't "listen" to my reasoning, I go straight to the New York State Department of Education. Well, I get the information I need from their internet site (thankfully, they're very clear about their rules & regulations) then I forward the link to the local school superintendent. I don't waste my time meeting with teachers and bus drivers-I've found they're set in their ways and are not likely to change without being directed to do so. Go to the top.

I had an extremely rude receptionist answer the phone at the Department of Social Services right after I was laid off from the county myself. I had worked in the mental office, so that receptionist didn't recognize my voice. She was PISSY, and RUDE and all I wanted to know is if my family was in the guidelines to get food stamps. I didn't want to fill out the entire application if we were far out of the ball park. She kept insisting I had to come in (I knew that was a lie-in my own desk at mental health I had a grid that showed income guidelines for such things-but never thought I'd need them for myself & didn't bring it home with me). So I called the legislature. Don't treat a recently laid off county worker like crap. They know where to go to complain! I had her name & I complained at the upper most level. I BET she doesn't ever try to give a caller a crappy attitude again.

[mcmama]

Angie, where did you find this statement? Or did someone say this to you?

[QueenAngie]

I read an article about this topic and found it to be very interesting. It was not a specific quote from a specific person.

I disagree with it, btw.

[mcmama]

Wonder what Miss Manners would say to that?????