Politeness
Are people more polite with non-family members than they are with their parents?
I cannot tell for sure, but that’s usually the case, especially with some of the youngsters nowadays. They even show more respect to others than their own parents, which seems like an act of hypocrisy to me. Fortunately, those are just a minority in a society full of decent people. Sometimes, you may have a feeling that people behave more politely to strangers than their own family members. This can be because they don’t want to be misunderstood or judged harshly if they act carelessly during their short interaction.
Are people today as polite as people were in the past?
Compared to the old times, I believe our ancestors were far more considerate in terms of social etiquettes and customs. Although we still have our set of rules and taboos about how to interact and behave properly, the sophistication of such behaviors has been drastically simplified. For instance, in the past, when greeting someone, particularly the other gender, people used to bend their knees and bow their heads. This has been replaced by a friendly handshake or swift greeting kisses on both cheeks in modern culture.
Why is it important to show respect to others?
Being acknowledged and respected is one of the most basic needs of human nature. People want to feel that they matter and so do their opinions, which is why, to build and maintain a healthy relationship, you have to show them respect. Respect can be understood simply as politeness. Acknowledge their presence by saying “hello” and express your gratitude by saying “thank you.” These are some of the smallest deeds anybody can do to communicate their appreciation.
How do people show politeness in your country?
Just like in other parts of the world, we practice some standard manners to show courtesy. When first encountering someone, we do a proper introduction and handshake to catch each other’s name and go on with our conversation. During our exchange, we try to maintain eye contact and pay undivided attention to the other person to let them know they’re being heard. Most importantly, we keep a genuine smile lingering on our faces to make people feel welcomed and relaxed. Otherwise, things might get awkward.
Are there any differences between urban and rural people concerning politeness?
People living in different parts of the country usually act according to their local customs, and their concept of politeness varies too. Those who live in rural areas tend to be more friendly, outspoken, and straightforward, which is why they often find themselves in awkward situations when conversing with city people. If anyone who isn’t familiar with their relatively explicit style of talking, they might think they’re impolite, but they just do it out of goodwill. In contrast, urban residents always weigh their words before speaking to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings.
How do you deal with impolite people?
In my opinion, when someone is acting impolitely, it’s best to remind them of their misbehavior so that they have time to correct it. If they refuse to listen to constructive advice, we can raise our voice to show our disagreement or even teach them some moral lessons at that moment. However, it would be a nightmare if adults misbehave. In such cases, I think it would be most reasonable to stay away from them or ask the elderly to help them rectify their bad behavior.
What kinds of behavior are not polite?
I believe it depends on the age groups. For children or teenagers, disobeying their parents or not listening to constructive advice from others can be seen as misbehavior. They often have big egos and are reluctant to correct their behavior in public places. For example, a teenager refusing to stop smoking in parks, even if told by adults, is considered impolite. As for adults, some tend to lack education, making it hard to expect any polite acts from them. Such people may resort to swearing or spitting recklessly in the streets, which often causes a big nuisance to others.
Do you think politeness is different in different countries and parts of the world?
I suppose there’s little doubt about that. Every part of the world has its own culture and unique way of expressing respect and politeness towards others. I recently read an article about how people in Japan treat their senior citizens. The picture of an old lady standing in a subway while other young men sat nearby caught me by surprise. It was only after reading the article that I understood Japanese elders would get offended if youngsters gave them their seats because it makes them feel older and useless. However, if any adolescent in my country did the same, they would be considered disrespectful or uneducated.
Vocabulary:
Hypocrisy (n): Behavior in which somebody pretends to have moral standards or opinions that they do not actually have.
Decent (a): Honest and fair; treating people with respect.
Misunderstand (v): To fail to understand somebody/something correctly.
Cast judgment on: To judge.
Ancestor (n): A person related to you who lived a long time ago.
Considerate (a): Always thinking of other people’s wishes and feelings; careful not to hurt or upset others.
Sophistication (n): The quality of being sophisticated; complication.
Drastically (adv): In an extreme way that has a sudden, serious, or violent effect on something.
Simplify (v): To make something easier to do or understand.
Human nature (n): The general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans.
Gratitude (n): The feeling of being grateful and wanting to express your thanks.
Communicate (v): To make your ideas, feelings, thoughts, etc. known to other people so that they understand them.
Appreciation (n): The feeling of being grateful for something.
Courtesy (n): Polite behavior that shows respect for other people.
Encounter (v): To meet somebody or discover or experience something, especially something new, unusual, or unexpected.
Eye-contact (n): The act of looking directly into one another's eyes.
Linger (v): To continue to exist for longer than expected.
Accordingly (adv): In a way that is appropriate to what has been done or said in a particular situation.
Outspoken (a): Saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people.
Straightforward (a): Honest and open; not trying to trick somebody or hide something.
Converse (v): To have a conversation with somebody.
Explicit (a): Saying something clearly, exactly, and openly.
Goodwill (n): Friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude.
Conflict (n): A situation in which people, groups, or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument.
Express (v): To show or make known a feeling, an opinion, etc. by words, looks, or actions.
Senior citizen (n): An elderly person, especially one who is retired and living on a pension.
Catch someone by surprise: To surprise someone with something unexpected.
Offend (v): To make somebody feel upset because of something you say or do that is rude or embarrassing.
Adolescence (n): The period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult.
Disrespectful (a): Showing a lack of respect for somebody/something.
Uneducated (a): Having had little or no formal education at a school; showing a lack of education.
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