Are your manners better when in public or at home?

@jer31558 (3683)
United States
May 30, 2008 9:19pm CST
Recently I was responding to a discussion about a particular mannerism and it got me to thinking about manners in general. I know that for myself, there are some manners that are better in public than at home. For instance, when drinking from a glass in public, I will stop before I get to that annoying racket when almost every single drop of fluid is gone from the glass. At home though, you would think I was in a symphony orchestra and that glass was my musical solo. I am also more likely to burp out loud at home than in public. So, how about you, where do you show your best manners at?
8 people like this
41 responses
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
31 May 08
I'm afraid that my private manners are those I display in public. I'll slurp the last dregs through a straw in public or at home! But I do believe in basic considerations like not blowing my nose at the table in public...at home, when I'm alone (my mom lives with me 5 months of the year) I'll blow my nose anywhere but I don't do it in public. That's about the only concession I make because I have very good manners.
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jun 08
I don't generally blow my nose in public unless I go to the bathroom. I am a bit different in public that at home though.
@oliverdt (1958)
• Philippines
5 Jul 08
My manners is better when I am in public, It is because in public theirs a lot of people that is watching me. It is so ashame of me if I show what kind of animal I am lol. Its just I am more comfortable at home.
1 person likes this
@oliverdt (1958)
• Philippines
10 Jul 08
Yes I also imagine if its already natural to all of us doing our bad manners in the public because everybody is doing the same too. Its too funy to see everybody inserting their hands under their nosetrils infront of everybody.
@oliverdt (1958)
• Philippines
10 Jul 08
I mean fingers not hands lol sorry...
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
10 Jul 08
I imagine that it would be quite embarrassing if people in public could see how many of us were at home.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
31 May 08
in public but i I burp any wehre I say excuse me
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@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
7 Jul 08
lol I do always!
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Same here...well most of the time anyway.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Oh I know it's in public-- and that you! you just made me realize that! I am much nicer and more polite in public- I'm sometimes annoyed at home and I will show it. Also there are things that I do at home that I would never do in public. Slurping soup-- etc.
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
10 Jul 08
Though I don't know it personally, I have heard that in some countries slurping soup and such is considered normal tradition in public.
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
7 Jul 08
i came across a sentence once and it really stuck. it goes something like this - what you do when you are alone shows what you really are. it took me a long while to completely digest and it got stuck ever since. in my constant journey to a better person, i strive to do exactly what i will do wherever i am. it doesn't matter if i'm at home or out. it doesn't matter if i'm with company or i'm amongst strangers. i strive to behave the exact same way. i feel that if we continue to wear a mask, one day we'd forget which is the mask. so there, a long response to your simply question. i behave in the exact same way in public or at home. cheers ;p
1 person likes this
• Singapore
10 Jul 08
that's a good one too! shall keep that in mind. thanks ;p
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
10 Jul 08
I heard a similar saying but it was a little different. It says: what you do in public shows what you think of others, what you do in private shows what you think of yourself.
@roanne05 (1290)
• Oman
31 May 08
same here..i am behave and at my best in public places..at home..i can slouch as much as i can i don't care..of course with the exeption when their is guest!hehehe!
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I seldom have guest, but I do get fussed out when the kids do some of the same things that I do and their excuse is "well daddy does it". One of the worst is wearing a cap in the house.
@roanne05 (1290)
• Oman
23 Jun 08
hehehe..bad things become good things in the eye of a child if an adult does it!
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
5 Jul 08
Well I am a bit of a drill sergeant when it comes to manners to be honest! As far as I am concerned; and from what I see from day to day; manners are a dieing art! I would like to think that my own manners are of the same standard both at and away from home. But I do have to admit that yes; I am a little more inclined to burp out loud at home!
1 person likes this
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
10 Jul 08
I agree that in many cases, manners are a dieing art. Thankfully though there are still many that teach the importance of such.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I am more pure in public...Of course, I want to act accordingly so there are things that I just minimize when I am in public, and I am more at myself at home..Like you, I can burp anytime at home as long as we are not taking any meal as a family..LOL!
1 person likes this
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Yeah, I do try to be a little more courteous when dining as a family....most of the time...lol
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I am different people at home and in public! I show much better manners in public than I do at home. My mother taught us all the proper manners and we always showed them when we went out but now that I live alone, there are many things that I do that I would never do in public. One of them would be the slurpy noise, that was mentioned, although I have done it when the waiter/waitress has overlooked my empty glass!! My grandsons and I like to shoot our papers off our straws at each other and they are better at it than I am!.......they are 3 and 4 and I think the 4 year old has it down to an art! He can do it everytime. I try not to burp in public. My youngest daughter burps very loudly wherever she is. She used to have the ladies in our bowling league laughing at her every week and a few even trying to match her volume......none did. I think she could win burping contests with most men!! My granddaughter was once told not to SNEEZE in her classroom......can you imagine?? She sneezes very loudly most of the time and her teacher told her she was not allowed to anymore. Is that a bad manner? M
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I would not consider sneezing to be a bad manner at all, though I could see how a loud sneeze would be distracting in a classroom as well. I still could not see telling someone not to sneeze. Is that even possible?
@gemini_rose (16264)
23 Jun 08
Oh definately when I am out, I could not really care less at home, I mean if I cannot relax at home then where can I relax? When I am out though I am real strict on manners, especially with having four kids, I really keep them in line, the only time I don't is if we are near people who just look at kids as if they all have horns sprouting out of their heads and then I let them get away with a bit more! I even find that I talk posh too, yes I know it is mad but for instance if I shout to them to " come here" at home it would be "come ere or get ere" If I am out then all of a sudden it becomes "come heah" in a really sort of posh way. I don't know why and when I catch myself doing it I become embarrassed.
1 person likes this
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I guess having four kids would make it very important to show good manners in public and set a good example. They will certainly pick up on any bad manner you may have in a heartbeat.
@jesbellaine (4139)
• Philippines
31 May 08
Well, I can say that my manners are better when I am in the public though often times, I am always doing what I think is right even at home.. but when at home, I can be clumsy at times.. you know.. hehhee
1 person likes this
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I think that most are that way at home. Its about the only place we can enjoy such freedom without being judged for such behavior...well most of the time anyways.
@sun2day (1062)
• Virgin Islands (U.S.)
2 Jun 08
I think my mannerism is displayed better in public than at home even though I do pretty good at home. I can always remember my parents telling me to "MIND MY MANNERS" lol
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I could almost feel my ma swatting me up against the back of my head if I did some rude thing in public.
@sissi320 (328)
• China
4 Jun 08
I show my best manners in public also. To show the best manners in public, I think it is a police to other people, but sometiones, best manners are always not go-as-you-please. So at home, I will be muself, and behavior anything that I want, just let myself feel much comfortable.
1 person likes this
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
If we can't be comfortable at home, then where can we be comfy at? I am like you on that.
• India
5 Jul 08
I am more mannersed in public than home. At home i will jump, dance,because at home there will be our family members so there will not get any problem but outside we have to get impression from others so I behave normally decently
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I think that we should be able to just let go and be ourselves at home. Where else could we get such freedom?
@limcyjain (3516)
• India
31 May 08
surely there is a differnce in the way one behaves when with own family members and when in public especailly there is a significant change in one body language and clothing style. Especially if i am with my husband at home there is surely going to be a big difference between my dealings than what they are in the public.
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I think that most people feel the same as you...thanks for responding.
• Philippines
31 May 08
well there is no other place in this planet for me to be more comfortable than my house. Of course when I'm at home I'm more at ease of how I should act and not considering if I may offend others or I may look like a jerk. But when in public I absolutely watch of how I act specially if with people I don't really know. Even with the mannerism I am aware I try to avoid doing it. In short I'm more considerate outside of how I act cause I know the way I act will always be the way people will know me.
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@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
You're right about that. People would definitely thing less of you if you let your manners go while outside of the house.
• United States
31 May 08
Ahh sure... I think we all let our hair down some what when at home. Not when we have company but when it is just the bodies that inhabit a single home. Burp fart who cares :))))
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@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Well said my friend. If you cannot have such freedom at home then home becomes a prison in my opinion.
@mummymo (23706)
31 May 08
I try to show good manners all the time jer - I have 2 kids that I have to show a good example to so I guess I am as likely to show good manners at home than in public! I think though the worst habit I have is singing rather loudly whilst at home which I would never do in public as I would be scared that everyone would run away screaming! lol xxx
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@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I have no doubt that you sound like an angel when you sing wherever you are. We do have to watch those manners around children though because they pick up on bad habits very quickly.
@Sherry12 (2472)
• United States
31 May 08
I try to use good manners both places. I know that I probably am better when I'm out in public. I like eating french fries with my fingers when I'm home, in a restaurant I use the fork. Unless I'm at McDonalds were everybody uses their fingers. Oh, and with lettuce when you get those big pieces that won't fit in your mouth, at home I'd probably just pick it up and eat it. When I'm out, I try to cut it.
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
well, you're manners seem better than mine. I eat those french fries with my finger no matter where I am.
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
31 May 08
Most definitely I show my best manners out in public. LOL! I will sit up straight as I eat and have a napkin on my lap while in public. But, at home, I'll just eat in whatever position I feel most comfortable and, my napkin will stay on the table next to my plate. So, I am very comfortable at home. In public, I guess I just don't want to offend anyone so, I won't misbehave! LOL!
1 person likes this
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I think that everyone worries more about what people think about them in public which is good. I would hate to imagine what eating out would be like if people were not that way.