President's Perspective: Manage your manners
With me, there is one thing that will never go out of style. It makes or breaks friendships, it attracts the opposite sex and it can even win you a job over someone else. It's a little thing called MANNERS.
Lately, and by lately that means the past year or so, I cannot believe how people's poor manners are grabbing my attention. High school, university, I didn't care that much. But now, I cannot believe how many people have no manners whatsoever. And by no manners, it's the “pleases” and “thank-yous”, which in my opinion are basic. Don't even get me started on the actions of those under the influence of alcohol. Come on, you know I like a drink, or seven, just as much as the next person, but it doesn't make me think I can treat people like dirt. Many a friendship has been lost over the actions of those who have been drinking. (By the way, since when did that become an excuse?)
When I was growing up, since my youngest brother is only 11 now (and myself being 23), we weren't even allowed to say “shut up” in the house. Rules were simple - if we swore we were FINED. Believe me, that pot of cash was huge with three brothers and myself.
That impression has stuck with me, so much in fact that I cringe when people use very crude language. And as I was paying yet another fine into the “Thomson Pot of Gold”, my mom would say “You will appreciate good manners when you meet someone who doesn't have them. And others will notice if you have bad manners.” And yup, I rolled my eyes, blah blah blah, sure mom, whatever. But most recently I can remember a situation in which I was with a group of people, and there was one gentleman in the group that just didn't know when to stop. (This is not a Fanshawe story, by the way). And more and more, he went on and on, and he was loud, and rude, and frankly, it was embarrassing.
Do you know what? My mom was right. Who knew? People who have no manners make me want to have better ones. And who knew I would be embarrassed to be around someone who acted like they had no respect?
There was another thing my mom always said to me. It was “You never know who is watching.” And when I was approached the next day by an individual, a friend of my mom's, asking me who I was out with the night before and then gave me that knowing, disapproving eye, I was humiliated. It made me think twice about the fact that someone is always watching you. And whether or not you know them, they may know you.
One of my biggest compliments nowadays for the opposite sex is “He has great manners.” They say you can tell how well a guy is going to treat you by the way he treats a waitress. Take notes, because it's totally true. And if you are reading this article, take note on other's manners. (And possibly your own…?) Corny as it may sound, a guy with good manners is someone I want to hang out with more. They have that much better of a chance of getting to my….heart. Plus, who doesn't want the door held for them once and awhile?
There are two life lessons here, and they will help you along the way. One: is that good manners will get you everywhere. Two: is that you really do never know who is watching. And I guess there is a third- your mom is probably always right. Who knew that “parents always know best” truly was a fact?
Lately, and by lately that means the past year or so, I cannot believe how people's poor manners are grabbing my attention. High school, university, I didn't care that much. But now, I cannot believe how many people have no manners whatsoever. And by no manners, it's the “pleases” and “thank-yous”, which in my opinion are basic. Don't even get me started on the actions of those under the influence of alcohol. Come on, you know I like a drink, or seven, just as much as the next person, but it doesn't make me think I can treat people like dirt. Many a friendship has been lost over the actions of those who have been drinking. (By the way, since when did that become an excuse?)
When I was growing up, since my youngest brother is only 11 now (and myself being 23), we weren't even allowed to say “shut up” in the house. Rules were simple - if we swore we were FINED. Believe me, that pot of cash was huge with three brothers and myself.
That impression has stuck with me, so much in fact that I cringe when people use very crude language. And as I was paying yet another fine into the “Thomson Pot of Gold”, my mom would say “You will appreciate good manners when you meet someone who doesn't have them. And others will notice if you have bad manners.” And yup, I rolled my eyes, blah blah blah, sure mom, whatever. But most recently I can remember a situation in which I was with a group of people, and there was one gentleman in the group that just didn't know when to stop. (This is not a Fanshawe story, by the way). And more and more, he went on and on, and he was loud, and rude, and frankly, it was embarrassing.
Do you know what? My mom was right. Who knew? People who have no manners make me want to have better ones. And who knew I would be embarrassed to be around someone who acted like they had no respect?
There was another thing my mom always said to me. It was “You never know who is watching.” And when I was approached the next day by an individual, a friend of my mom's, asking me who I was out with the night before and then gave me that knowing, disapproving eye, I was humiliated. It made me think twice about the fact that someone is always watching you. And whether or not you know them, they may know you.
One of my biggest compliments nowadays for the opposite sex is “He has great manners.” They say you can tell how well a guy is going to treat you by the way he treats a waitress. Take notes, because it's totally true. And if you are reading this article, take note on other's manners. (And possibly your own…?) Corny as it may sound, a guy with good manners is someone I want to hang out with more. They have that much better of a chance of getting to my….heart. Plus, who doesn't want the door held for them once and awhile?
There are two life lessons here, and they will help you along the way. One: is that good manners will get you everywhere. Two: is that you really do never know who is watching. And I guess there is a third- your mom is probably always right. Who knew that “parents always know best” truly was a fact?
