Title Intentionally Left Bank: Minding your Ps & Qs

Posted by SMM on 17:54

Three words which I use most often are Sorry, Please & Thank you. I say it to everyone - be it my family, my friends, colleagues, clerks or any random person. I don't think it makes me smaller than the other person or a pushover.

I say thank you to the office boy when he gives me coffee or to my colleague when he lends me a pen or to my husband when he prepares a lovely dinner or my mother when she gives me a gift. It surprises quite a few people when I say thank you to someone for having done their job - whether the job is serving me with coffee or selling me a pack of biscuits from his grocery shop or whether it is running to get me the correct size of the clothing that I am trying on.

I say sorry when I mistakenly stamp someone's foot in the bus or a crowded room or when I hurt someone.

I say please when I ask for anything from anyone, be it my husband or the clerk.

A smile and a word go a long way - whether it is the sales person altering your outfit & giving it to you the same day for the party or when you request the court master to adjust a date. I don't believe in smiling and talking politely only when I need something or when the boss is around.

I am of the belief that practising common courtesy with family, friends, co-workers or any random person is a way of life. I also believe that it reflects very negatively when a person does not practice it. Maybe I am old-fashioned, but if I have given someone a time and know that I am going to be late, I will call and apologise for the same. If smeone takes me out for a meal, I will say thank you. Even if I know the person really well, I will still say please, sorry & thank you.

Sadly, not many practice basic courtesy today. I see parents not teaching their kids any manners saying they will learn it later. Later? When later? I see kids in whose dictionaries, sorry & thank you does not even exist.

People tell me I am a pushover since I use these words freely. I beg to differ. People who know me will be the first to state that whatever else I maybe, a pushover is the last thing that I am. If someone takes me for granted because I use sorry & thank you, then that person is very much mistaken.

For me it is a way of life & speech.

Rià says:

11 June 2009 at 21:54

thats awesome gurl!!there r so few ppl who use these words these days.And those who think tht u r a pushover are simply jealous of tht fact tht they cant use these words as freely as u do! :) Cheers babe.

Just call me 'A' says:

12 June 2009 at 09:12

I use please and thank you a lot. But not sorry. I only say sorry when i really really mean it and not necesarily when i've done something i should not have.

But yes, the other version of sorry..... the kind you say when you bump into someone accidently or knock something down...I am quick on those sorries too. It does'nt make one a puch over but It does deduce the value of the word. sorry that is..not please, thank you.

Keshi says:

12 June 2009 at 12:17

Great reminder to many Im sure :)

alot of ppl lack good manners, etiquette and general courtesy these days. its very imp to use these words and mean em too. Being polite and respectful towards others is a must.

Lovely post SMM!

Keshi.

Anu says:

13 June 2009 at 00:29

hmm I had a similar post some time back.. your right, saying please and thank you now, means your a pushover.. being rude is the new cool.. gosh I wish i was back in the 1800's

D says:

13 June 2009 at 18:09

I thought it was such a 'convent' thing and that that's where I got it from. Did you too?

DPhatsez says:

14 June 2009 at 06:59

This should be sent as an SMS or posted on social networking sites if you want the kids of today to at least notice it.

Good one.I concur and I practice what you preach.

\m/

P.S. I sure as hell ain't no pushover either! :)

Anonymous says:

15 June 2009 at 23:55

Loved that, SMM. I do the same, and I totally respect people who do follow basic courtesy to everybody!

SMM says:

16 June 2009 at 19:43

@Ria

Thanks Ria...Cheers to you too :)

16 June 2009 at 19:50

@ 'A'

I say sorry only when I mean it - I don't use it as a superfluous word, whther I have accidently bumped someone or whether I have hurt someone's feelings. I am free with it, but I never use when I don't mean it - like you said, it reduces the value

16 June 2009 at 19:52

@ Keshi

Thanks so much sweetie.I do hope it makes a difference Kesh. Today's kids lack the basic etiqquetee, actually why kids, alot of ppl our age lack the basic manners. They think it's cool & its attitude.

16 June 2009 at 19:55

@ Anu

I remember reading your post on lack of manners in the workspace. It's so difficult to work with such ppl.

You said it so well - rude is the new cool.They think being rude is showing attitude. Sad they don't even knw what attitude is.

16 June 2009 at 19:57

'D'

Possibly. I started my schooling in a convent - its had a great influence on my English, my handwriting and I guess my etiquette too :)

16 June 2009 at 19:59

"DPhatsez'

Hey welcome to my blog and thanks for commenting.

Maybe I should put this up as a note on FB, then it will attract some mroe attention. Thanks so much for the compliment that it should be sent out as an sms:)

16 June 2009 at 20:04

@ Pallavi

Thanks so much. I think it is easy to get along with ppl who practiose basic coutesy. Its an instant black mark against someone who does not.

17 June 2009 at 10:05

** alot of ppl our age lack the basic manners. They think it's cool & its attitude.

ur right abt that!

And NO it aint cool, it actually sucks. LOL!

Keshi.

18 June 2009 at 08:31

I agree with D.it seems a convent school affliction.How else would you explain a boor like me using such words :-)
But yes ,many a time,politeness is mistaken for weakness.

20 June 2009 at 21:28

a way of life and speech and thats exactly how it shud be!!iam totally for good manners and courtesy...hell,i even say sorry when someone else stamps my toes or accidently bumps into me!!lol

23 June 2009 at 12:39

@ Keshi

And we have o bear with those poor misguided sould all trying to be COOL :P

23 June 2009 at 12:41

@ Lostie

Not only is politeness mistaken for weakness, it also means that you get mistaken for being a pushover leaving the other person totally bewildered and shocked hat you not what you appear to be and you end up being calle d'double-faced' too :p

All because your polite but not a pushover :P

23 June 2009 at 12:42

@ Mandira

You and me seem to sail in the same boat...though I don't apologise when someone stamps my foot. If that person does not apologise I glare at them till they do :P

9 July 2009 at 14:15

finally some one talked like me !! I agree with all that you write here and i too proud myself for sayng these three words to anyone who deserves them ! thanks for writing this :)