A small rant, not directed at anyone in meatspace, nosireebob.

[e_juliana]

"Please" and "thank you" are not mere empty phrases to be discarded in this fashionably informal age. They are acknowledgements of a person's basic humanity, a recognition that your request is being processed by a human and not a machine. To not use them informs the requestee of their exact status (or lack thereof) in your mind, fostering resentment and rudeness. Giving commands should be reserved for crises and affairs of state - times when immediacy of action supersedes the need to be polite.

Whether you are addressing a fast-food worker, an administrative assistant, a fellow passenger, or the President of Burundi, basic manners should remain in force at all times. Otherwise, you risk a marker being thrown at your head.

Fucko.

Comments

[debg.livejournal.com]

What I have to figure out is where common courtesy disappeared into the shadows, where it's been hiding. We utilise both liberally.

An odd aside, though - Nic and I differ completely on addressing a stranger by name. Nic will thank tollbooth workers by name (visible on their badges); I tend to think it's intrusive, because just because they're being forced to tell me their name by their job requirements doesn't equate to wanting me to adddress them by it.

But we both say please and thank you, he with name, me without.

[sowilo.livejournal.com]

I'm anti name as well. Too many people are forced to wear nametags that wouldn't want you to know their name if you could avoid it. particularly the first name issue. But, we've all heard my rants on the first name thing.

I always thank, though.

[debg.livejournal.com]

My sister in nametag manners!

I will say, Nic is so genuine about it that I've never once seen any of the people in question take even shuttered offense at it. But I couldn't pull that off. I'd feel intrusive.

Hell, if that was me? I'd be tempted to do a Raptor Girl, a la Deena's daughter, glare the stranger being familiar with my name right in the eye, and announce "My. NAME. is. TYRONE!"