Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Etiquette and Manners

Last night I went about my most dreaded chore. It makes me think I would not make a good housewife at all. Anyway I really hate grocery shopping. My husband volunteered to do the grocery shopping for us. Yesterday however he was out and the shopping could not be postponed so I took the bullet and went to the store.

Upon setting foot into the darn store I realized why I hate it with such passion. People seem to have lost their manners. Would it kill you to say “excuse me” when you push your sweaty body in front of me, blocking my view or when you reach past me??? Would it kill you to move yourself and your cart to the side to catch up with your neighbor that you happened to meet while shopping??? Would it kill you to keep on walking to the side instead of stopping dead in your tracks in the middle of the freakin’ aisle??? And would you please stop complaining about the fact that I rammed my cart into your heel as a result of you coming to a sudden halt??? I did apologize.

After a long day it would be nice to see some courtesy. Do men actually ever hold a door open anymore? I know men in work do but outside of work everyone just seems to have turned into selfish monkeys.

People behave as though they are “the only person in the world” but I assure you, you are not. I am not interested to listening to your music on your iPod blaring through your headphones nor do I enjoy being sprinkled by your make-up when you powder your face on the train? You can’t get up five minutes earlier to put the make-up on in the comfort of your own home? We all have to watch you layering your make-up on?

Kids today don’t even bother to get up when they see an elderly person or a pregnant lady getting on the train anymore. Is it because they are brats or because their parents never bothered to teach them?

Anyway, it took me a good 45 minutes to get my shopping done and I couldn’t wait to leave this hellhole. I get passive-aggressive and one day…well I am afraid that one day I am going to lose it.

Anyone else think that manners are not up to date anymore in today’s world?

23 comments:

Melisa Wells said...

I couldn't agree more, Kat. People are so busy thinking about themselves and carrying around a sense of entitlement that for many people (not all), good manners are a thing of the early 20th century! And don't even get me started on most kids...

My friend thinks I'm weird because I smile and say hi to most people I make eye contact with, no matter where I am. I think she's jealous. :) (probably not, but I like the way that sounded)

I am so glad that my boys are the polite individuals that they are. They've had good manners since they were toddlers.

Danielle Athanas said...

I agree with you 100%. And it started with "my" generation. I can't tell you how many people I know have lost the words "please", "thank you", and "excuse me" from my age bracket in the US (I'm 27). This includes my husband, who thought I was insane when we started dating because I wouldn't do things if he didn't say "please" (he does now, it's amazing. :)). It's sad, but at the same time inspires me to make sure I raise our kids properly when we have them.

misguidedmommy said...

i'm strange i'm the only person i know who LOVES going to the store

Anonymous said...

Shannon: Yes you are!

I'm with you I hate food shopping which accounts for my issues on the other blog but that's another story.

I find during the holidays people are stressed out and manners are the first thing out the door. I'm guilty of it myself I must admit but in my case it's because I worked retail (a toy store) when I was younger and I have seen how totally rude shoppers can be that nothing really fazes me at a store during Christmas.

Melisa Wells said...

Misguided Mommy: You're not alone; I LOVE going grocery shopping! If you take out the slow cashiers and the rude shoppers (besides me!), it's great! And, it's a math challenge, as you can see from my post from last month:

http://thesuburbanscrawl.blogspot.com/2007/11/one-of-reasons-im-great-with-numbers.html

I worked retail also (but, thank goodness am done with that!) and I totally agree with Patty that holiday shoppers have no mercy on the poor, minimum-wage-paid store employees. I much prefer grocery shopping over holiday gift shopping.

Melisa
Remembering Ruby
and
Suburban Scrawl

Unknown said...

Manners died with Customer Service!
I love that person who stops their cart in the middle of the aisle to debate puddings....wtf?? You can't move 5 inches to either side like a normal person?
Personally I like grocery shopping...it's the cleaning I could really skip all together. lol

kat said...

Melisa-I figured your boys were well mannered and I agree with you most people think manners are a left over relic of the past century.

Danielle-I am with you on that. If we ever pass the cat test and have kids we will certainly make the little ones have good manners.

Misguided Mommy-I was about to say you're the only one but then Melisa and Spazzgirl came out to admit they love it too.

Spazzgirl-I find cleaning a pain in the ass too but at least I can curse at myself instead of the eejits that block the aisles :)

Melisa Wells said...

Kat: I got a great laugh at thinking about you cursing yourself while cleaning house. ROFL!

kat said...

Melisa-I will happily make you laugh. If you'd see me clean you'd laugh even more :)

kat said...

Oh and Patty I so know what you mean. I think most people are in a huff in the run up to Christmas

Shawna said...

I totally agree with you, on the lack of manners people exhibit today. It is a new generation being raised much differently then we were. It makes we really sad. I think it has to do with being totally self absorbed and entitlement. Oh my God I sound like my grandma. But these kids these days think they are owed something, and have a lack of respect for others.

Although Kat I hate to admit it this but when you were talking about people just stopping there cart in the middle of the aisle it made me think about shopping trips I take with my mother. It drives me crazy she is oblivious to what is going on around her.

Ella already says please, thank you, your welcome and excuse me. Sometimes inappropriately, but the words are in her vocabulary.

Oh my I just read what other people commented. Melisa and I feel very similiar.

Nicole said...

I don't mind grocery shopping so much but I totally agree that people are rude as hell. The other day when I was shopping with a friend we had a lady just walk up and stand in front of us in line and when my friend called her on it all she said was "I don't think anyone is going to die because of it" AHHHHHHH What is wrong with people? Good post

Melisa Wells said...

Nicole:
How many different, violent things did you and your friend think of when that lady said that to you? I would have wanted to rip the head off her shoulders.

But of course I wouldn't follow through, because I'm a polite person.

That's it! I've got it! Polite people always get screwed over and walked on. Maybe that's why so many people are rude these days...

Melisa
Remembering Ruby
and
Suburban Scrawl

kat said...

Not so perfect-I couldn't agree with you more but apart from that Ella's going to be very well behaved then

Nicole-wow that is absolutely rude. No wonder you were left speechless.

Melisa - I agree, you would want to rip that lady's head off but then again we're too polite and polite people always get screwed over.

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

Kat, don't get me started. It's one of my favorite rant how people are just so oblivious to everyone else around them. Never a thought for the other person.

I'll have you know though that I always hold doors open for ladies and I never sit on the train for very long because I always give up my seat.

I have been called sexist for that but when it happens I just give my seat to someone else. Those women who think I give them my seat or hold a door for them because I think they are lower than me amaze me. Why would I sacrifice for someone I think is below me?

Lainey-Paney said...

If I'm alone----I love grocery shopping. I have since I was a child. Grocery shopping is so great.
And, there was a starbucks in my local grocery store. AHHHH....

So...now that I'm a mom...if I have the time set aside to just take my time---grocery shopping is glorious, me time.

k a t i e said...

...and there's nothing like service with a smile.

If I ever get a friendly 'check-out chick' (also known as 'cashier' over there) I practically turn them into my new best friend. It's so rare to have someone who will lower themselves to speak to the general public - which is basically their job.

Having said that...I do love a shop. Because then I get to choose what goes in the trolley instead of my health conscious partner. Yum yum yum.

Uncommon Blonde said...

I live in a city full of retired people who are all focused on pushing to the front of the line. Any line will do, they think they deserve to be at the front of them all. Pisses me off ...

Sorry your shopping experience was so unpleasent, you're not alone - it's happening everywhere!

Casdok said...

There are too many!!

kat said...

Rob-why would anyone in their right mind think your gentlemanly ways are sexist? Eejits! You can hold a door for me anytime :)

Lainey-Painey- not you too. But I understand that it is precious "me time" for you.

Katie- nice cashiers are a dream aren't they?

Uncommon blonde- I would flip a lid, seriously. Elderly or not..that fight would be on. So ON I tell you :)

Casdok- you said it!

Pocklock said...

I couldn't written this myself! I hate grocery shopping. I tend to go about 15 minutes before they close so not to have to deal with too much of a crowd. It's worked for me so far.

me said...

Amen! I think manners are completely forgotten. I am so glad that my parents were so hard on us about our manners growing up because now I have them and I use them and will make sure I raise my kids with manners in the future. People without manners suck!

Unknown said...

I've started looking at grocery shopping (at busy times anyway) as sort of a meditative exercise. Like a challenge to stay calm and practice loving detachment from all the chaos and panic and resulting rudeness around me. I'm sure I sound insane :)

I kind of have to though because now it is not just for me, it is for work! I just started a small business where I send people a weekly box with a suggested meal plan, recipes, and groceries, so all they have to do is cook. Sometimes there are perishables that I can't send, but it's still so much easier to go buy eggs than to go buy everything you will need for several weeks at a time. If you hate grocery shopping you should check me out! http://fortydollargourmet.com/peacemeals