Thank You -- Please -- I'm Sorry: How courteous are you?
By SetoKun
@SetoKun (286)
Philippines
January 23, 2007 11:15am CST
Courtesy can be measure in a lot of different ways but let me just focus on the basic three.
Courtesy starts at home. Way back when we were little kids, our parents always thought us to say "Thank You" if we recieve something. To say "I'm Sorry" if we did something wrong and to say "Please" if we want something. I can still hear my mom's voice at the back of my mind saying the words: "Say Thank You", "What is the magic word? (me: Please)", "Say I'm Sorry". Those are the words that I use to get from my mom everytime I forgot to say one of those words.
Well-thought kids always say those words. But as we grow old, sometimes we tend to forget the value of it. Sure thing we never failed to say "Thank You" everytime we recieved present. We never failed to say "Please" if we want something that is really important. And We never failed to say "I'm Sorry" to the persons who are somehow connected to us if did something wrong.
But how about little things? If you are in the restaurant and want some hot sauce, is the word "Please" always present? Or most of us just say, "Can I have hot sauce?". Everytime the cashier gave you the change, do you take time to say "Thank You"? When you are rushing for work and slightly bumped someone, do you look back to say "I'm Sorry"?
Well, how courteous are you?
3 people like this
6 responses
@Bunny2 (2102)
• Australia
23 Jan 07
I think it's a sad side effect of society nowadays that some children are raised without being taught to be polite. They are taught that it is their right to complain (which of course it is if there is anything wrong). That they have a right to speak up (again, true) and that they have the right to anything they want. Swearing is becoming as natural as breathing to them and thank you or please is not in their vocabulary. Of course this is a generalization. I'm proud to say my three teenage sons are all well-mannered and well behaved. I have never had a complaint abot them, only praise. The same can be said for most of their friends. I truly believe it's not just hpw you're raised (though that is significant) but also the friends you make that mold the person who you become.
Excellent topic.
2 people like this
@SetoKun (286)
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
Thank you for your reply. Yes, I agree with you that the people around them also helps them become what they are. It's good that you've raised your children very well. I'm sure they are thankful to you as how thankful I am for my parents for raising me this way.
Thank you for the compliment about the topic. It's sad though that only a few are replying.
2 people like this
@shogunly (1397)
• Libya
25 Jan 07
I like to use all those "polite" expressions , but I admit I don't think I am always "courteous" . There is a "heart" and "feeling" required to make a person who observes polite manners into a corteous person . Also ,some people exaggerate politeness because they feel superior to others . I honestly am sometimes in the first category ,sometimes the other .
@greengal (4286)
• United States
23 Jan 07
This is a very good question. In today's fast pacd world, we take such things for granted. We never have a moment's time to appreciate or apologise. I was taught to be courteous in school. WE had to say "please", "thank you" etc very often. We learnt a lot of table manners too. It was a residential school. It's good to teach kids at an early age to be courteous.It's been a year since I came to the US and I felt people here are so courteous. I know they are trained to be that way, bu tstill they make an effort to be courteous. I feel so pleased when I'm tended to in a nice way.
2 people like this
@LadyRhesus (84)
• Philippines
1 Feb 07
I'm trying my best to be courteous as much as possible. But with the busy world I'm in, there are times that the important values like courtesy is sometimes forgotten. I like the message of your topic.
1 person likes this
@budzonline (6)
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
you are right all kids are thought about that. i agree also that we never failed to say thank you, please, and im sorry on the intances you mentioned. and i feel guilty about that little things. i rarely use that 3 courteous words on the little things that you mentioned and im guilty.
