For devotees of Dan Klass' The Bitterest Pill
Manners
Preamble: I've never attempted to start a discussion before, so this debut may be out of place. However, it's just something I've been thinking about lately. (Actually, I asked my G&T philosophy kids about them and got some nice replies.) Here goes.
(1) Are manners a casualty of technology? If so, shouldn't a new code be created?
(2) What do manners say about the person that has them?
In relation to (1), I see this all of the time: people expecting to get served in shops while talking on phones or listening to MP3 players, excessively loud personal (or not) conversations on buses, students and collaegues texting during classes, meeting, casual conversation.
In relation to (2), this question arises because I have finally met someone that I just don't like. Of course there are those that one is not particularly interested in getting to know, etc., but this is someone that I (unfortunately) know and cannot like. So, my manners toward him are pretty much non-existent. (It would mean little to me if he didn't crash at my partner's house.)
Therefore, I'm considering whether manners are reflections solely on how one engages with the world or if they should be more sincere.
I'm inclined to think that the former is appropriate (but I sure wish it were the latter).
I hope this can be a starting point for a discussion: does anyone agree or disagree with the aforementioned proposals? Any anecdotes of nonexistent techno-manners?
(1) Are manners a casualty of technology? If so, shouldn't a new code be created?
(2) What do manners say about the person that has them?
In relation to (1), I see this all of the time: people expecting to get served in shops while talking on phones or listening to MP3 players, excessively loud personal (or not) conversations on buses, students and collaegues texting during classes, meeting, casual conversation.
In relation to (2), this question arises because I have finally met someone that I just don't like. Of course there are those that one is not particularly interested in getting to know, etc., but this is someone that I (unfortunately) know and cannot like. So, my manners toward him are pretty much non-existent. (It would mean little to me if he didn't crash at my partner's house.)
Therefore, I'm considering whether manners are reflections solely on how one engages with the world or if they should be more sincere.
I'm inclined to think that the former is appropriate (but I sure wish it were the latter).
I hope this can be a starting point for a discussion: does anyone agree or disagree with the aforementioned proposals? Any anecdotes of nonexistent techno-manners?
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