Common courtesy -
In a line (or queue area in British English), it is customary to wait patiently behind the person who came before you, as most lines are first come, first served in North America. Cutting in line istaboo; however, it is often possible to have people save places in line under ordinary and even extraordinary circumstances.
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When someone is heavily laden, a person nearby will customarily assist the burdened person. For example if he or she drops something (even a part of the burden), a person nearby may assist by picking up the dropped item. This is practiced even on the roads whenever a large or loaded vehicle requires extra time and maneuvering by giving the right of way to the loaded vehicle.
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Pedestrians have right-of-way when interacting with vehicular traffic. Courteous drivers who observe a pedestrian that appears desirous to cross the vehicle's path will customarily come to a stop and motion to the pedestrian to cross in front of the vehicle, though pedestrians unaware of this rule of etiquette might refuse to cross, in which case the driver should make a gesture of thanks and drive on quickly.
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When the aged or handicapped are amongst a group of people, the courteous will permit such a person to forgo formal rules of first come, first served. This special accommodation is particularly evident when the distances traveled are long or arduous and when able-bodied persons are expected to stand and wait in long lines.
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In times of emergency, panic, or evacuation, the able-bodied persons are expected to help those who are not able to fend for themselves. In previous times the custom included the nineteenth century adage "women and children first" when deciding who would be rescued first. The senior leader, or if none is designated, the best educated, oldest, and strongest male individual in a large group will customarily be designated the ad hoc group leader for the purposes of assigning tasks during an emergency. Just as the captain goes down with his ship, the group leader is customarily the last one to be rescued.
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When driving on an unfamiliar road, a driver should pull aside and permit others to pass rather than travel slower than the prevailing local traffic.
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When fishing, it is customary to avoid crossing lines with someone else, and to avoid doing so by fishing far enough away from others.
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When operating a motorized pleasure boat, one should slow down when near fishermen, swimmers, or boats adrift to prevent large wake.
Doorways -
It is polite to hold a door open for someone behind you. If someone opens or holds a door open for you, it is polite to thank them.
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It is polite to step aside and wait for people exiting an elevator car, subway, train, bus, etc. before boarding.
Formal occasions -
Applause is the acceptable way to show appreciation and satisfaction at a formal gathering. Standing ovation is reserved for an exceptional performance and for lavish praise. Whistling and stamping the feet is considered brash, while heckling is considered rude, as is clapping applause at certain religious events (e.g. the Roman Catholic Mass, though many congregations forgo this rule).
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When at a formal event, guests may be escorted from the back of the building to the location that they are expected to occupy during the event. The usher or escort (traditionally, a man or boy) will greet the guest, face the direction to which the guest should walk, and then smartly extend one of his elbows toward the guest to indicate that the guest should lock arms with the escort. The escort and guest will then walk together to the designated location, at which the escort will then unlock and gesture for the guest to remain. If a woman is accompanied by a man and/or children, then only the woman will be escorted and the others in her party shall closely follow her.
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In some cases, a woman's escort will be the man who accompanied her to the event, and the couple will be expected to lock arms and walk side-by-side. At other times the couple will be designated formally, such as when a Homecoming queen is escorted by the one voted as the Homecoming king. The formal walk during the escort is typically slow and follows a path that is covered traditionally in red carpet.
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If valet parking or curbside dropoff service is offered for the event, an escort may accompany guests from the moment the guests exit their vehicle, even assisting them at the door, "women and children first."
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Gentlemen should stand when a woman approaches a party at a table, or excuses herself from the table.
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When the bride enters the room during a wedding and it is her first formal appearance, all stand and look at her.
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The bride's traditional escort is her father up until the time the groom meets her, at which time the groom becomes her formal escort for the rest of the formal wedding ceremony.
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At a formal wedding, it is customary for the groom to remain stationary and wait until he is formally presented with his bride.
Greeting -
It is customary to mirror or repeat a greeting back to the person who greeted you. Examples: "Good morning" would be replied with "Good morning" and not "Hi." A greeting of "Have a nice day" might be replied with "You, too" and not "Salutations."
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If a newcomer or stranger comes into the midst of one's group or comes unexpectedly to one's familiar surroundings, it is customary to welcome the stranger and attempt to assist the person. A common greeting is, "Hi. May I help you?"
Restaurants
See also Table manners
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It is appropriate to contact the waiter by making eye contact, nodding the head, or holding up the index finger. If necessary, "Excuse me..." or, if known, saying the waiter's name is appropriate. Shouting for, snapping fingers at, or whistling for the waiter's attention is rude.
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Diners may speak to servers, and should use polite terms such as "please" and "thank you," but need not feel compelled to if engaged in conversation with a fellow diner.
Seating -
In North America people are accustomed to sitting in most public venues. The most common way to sit is on a chair, couch, bench, or pew. Stools are offered in some establishments. It is uncommon for people to sit directly on the ground except at informal outdoor gatherings.
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If seating is limited (or there is standing-room only) in public transportation or waiting areas, it is polite for people in good health to offer their seats to those with special needs, such as the frail, disabled, people with infants, and pregnant women.[75] It is impolite to assume someone is in good health and to ask them to give up a seat, or to chastise them for not having offered. A young person who appears healthy may, for example, have an orthopedic problem and may need the seat more than a healthy 75-year-old.
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It is not impolite for a gentleman to offer his seat to a woman, nor for the woman to politely decline.
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When enough seats are available (such as at a movie theater, uncrowded bus, park bench, or waiting room), strangers should sit at least one seat apart. If seating later becomes limited, it is common for the company responsible for the seating arrangements to send an usher or make an announcement admonishing patrons to "squeeze in" or sit closer together until the full capacity is reached.
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