I was taught at an early age how to be polite and how to be respectful of others, especially of those who are older. It’s hard not to like a person with good manners; someone who is attentive will be received with a smile as opposed to someone who will cough in your face – pure disgust. I would never dream of interrupting my mom and grandmother when they were in deep conversation, my dad always opened the door for my mom and me, no one started eating unless everyone at the table had been served, etc…
When I went to my friend’s houses, the same would apply. I never thought of myself as extra considerate or extra well mannered, it was just the way things were. Even if you did something you weren’t supposed to, your parents would be the first ones to make you apologize, say hello, or fix whatever it is you did.
Things stayed kind of the same when I transitioned from High School in Mexico, to College in the US. I went to UC Berkeley, and let me tell you, students there are more likely to crucify you if you make a sudden movement in the library that might distract them from their studying. People would walk slower as if tip-toeing so that they wouldn’t disturb their fellow classmates, and also so they wouldn’t receive those nasty glares. Committing a social faux pas is a horrible experience. If you walked out of a lecture while the professor was still talking, then you could expect the whole room of 200+ students turn your way as you “quietly” tried to open the door, sometimes even the professor would glance over to see who would dare walk out of their lecture. Thus students wouldn’t walk out unless their bladder was about to explode, and they had no other choice – can you imagine the other faux pas of actually “going” in the classroom? Beyond humiliating.
After graduation I moved to Los Angeles to work in film. A complete cliché on paper I know, but believe it or not I did not come here to be an actress or a screenplay. I just want to share stories with the world, stories worth telling- yes I know, a Berkeley cliché, but one I actually believe in. I was blown away with the type of people who think they rule Hollywood. Barking orders, yelling at their staff, slamming doors, having guests wait 30 minutes outside the office while they finished updating their Facebook status – sad but true. It doesn’t make you seem more important, just so you know; you look like you’ve lost all type of social decency.
I’m not saying people should be extra considerate of others, I mean I am in a place where everyone puts themselves first, no matter what. But being polite should never be thrown completely out the window, unless you want to look like a complete lunatic and have your staff and colleagues make fun of you behind your back. As the old saying goes “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Be considerate and polite and you’ll find that others will reciprocate. If you want to be respected then you must practice it before you receive it. Don’t forget those little rules of etiquette your parents taught you when you were little, in a world where they are scarce habits, they can make you stand out in a positive way.
When I went to my friend’s houses, the same would apply. I never thought of myself as extra considerate or extra well mannered, it was just the way things were. Even if you did something you weren’t supposed to, your parents would be the first ones to make you apologize, say hello, or fix whatever it is you did.
Things stayed kind of the same when I transitioned from High School in Mexico, to College in the US. I went to UC Berkeley, and let me tell you, students there are more likely to crucify you if you make a sudden movement in the library that might distract them from their studying. People would walk slower as if tip-toeing so that they wouldn’t disturb their fellow classmates, and also so they wouldn’t receive those nasty glares. Committing a social faux pas is a horrible experience. If you walked out of a lecture while the professor was still talking, then you could expect the whole room of 200+ students turn your way as you “quietly” tried to open the door, sometimes even the professor would glance over to see who would dare walk out of their lecture. Thus students wouldn’t walk out unless their bladder was about to explode, and they had no other choice – can you imagine the other faux pas of actually “going” in the classroom? Beyond humiliating.
After graduation I moved to Los Angeles to work in film. A complete cliché on paper I know, but believe it or not I did not come here to be an actress or a screenplay. I just want to share stories with the world, stories worth telling- yes I know, a Berkeley cliché, but one I actually believe in. I was blown away with the type of people who think they rule Hollywood. Barking orders, yelling at their staff, slamming doors, having guests wait 30 minutes outside the office while they finished updating their Facebook status – sad but true. It doesn’t make you seem more important, just so you know; you look like you’ve lost all type of social decency.
I’m not saying people should be extra considerate of others, I mean I am in a place where everyone puts themselves first, no matter what. But being polite should never be thrown completely out the window, unless you want to look like a complete lunatic and have your staff and colleagues make fun of you behind your back. As the old saying goes “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Be considerate and polite and you’ll find that others will reciprocate. If you want to be respected then you must practice it before you receive it. Don’t forget those little rules of etiquette your parents taught you when you were little, in a world where they are scarce habits, they can make you stand out in a positive way.
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