We all have pet peeves…for example, people who think it’s A-OK to barge out the IN door, sneeze without covering their mouths or talk out loud during a movie. It’s normal to wish folks would use common courtesy when in the presence of others.
But something else that has always bugged me is the fact that some unseen entities from the past decided to throw together a bunch of “rules” that we all had to follow if we wanted to live in a polite society. Ridiculous things like never wearing white after Labor Day and keeping your elbows off the dinner table. Many rules of etiquette definitely do make sense – belching and passing gas in a packed elevator come to mind – but I can’t help but wonder why we place so much importance on other people’s standards if what we’re doing doesn’t even affect them. Call me a savage but, if I want to eat my entire meal with the salad fork, that’s what I’m going to do. It really shouldn’t be anyone else’s concern.
Besides rules of etiquette, I also find it bothersome that the idea of not being conversant in certain matters might cause people to question my level of couth.
It’s very possible that the real problem here is that I simply overthink stuff but, if you’d like to see what I’m talking about, click the link below and read It’s Just a Matter of Taste. Who knows? Maybe one or two of my little irritations get your goat, too.
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