Comments for Common Sense Courtesy

Comment on Regarding Driving Part 9: When Leaving a Parking Space by Julia

Julia — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:13:58 +0000

One time I hopped into my car after work and saw that the person parked across from me was already in his car. “Sweet!” I thought, “just in time to be able to drive outta here forwards right after he leaves.” But he actually just sat there. I knew this had turned into a game of parking lot Chicken, so I whipped out my cell phone and waited for him to politely back out first, after all, he had gotten to his car first. But for some reason the jerk actually waited for ME to pull out first. I finally just backed out first because it was getting to the point where it was ridiculous and it was faster just to back out than to wait for him.
He immediately followed me out forwards.

Comment on Public Transportation Part 2: Blocking the empty seat by Joe

Joe — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:33:35 +0000

I know. That’s why I always make them move out of the way and sit right next to them. If they have to pick up an umbrella to make room for me, all the better.

Comment on Public Transportation Part 2: Blocking the empty seat by Webomatica

Webomatica — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:29:07 +0000

This drives me nuts on the CalTrain, which has rows of dual seats. The vast majority of folks sit by the window, but there will always, without fail, be the person sitting deliberately in the aisle, sometimes with some offensively small item like a newspaper or an umbrella lying in the other seat, intended to claim it.

Comment on The Dining Experience Part 7: It’s a Restroom, not a Closet by Webomatica

Webomatica — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:18:25 +0000

ha ha, love the pics. That bathroom is hilariously tiny, and that door position is just wrong.

I actually thought the headline with the word “closet” meant bathrooms that are also used as storage space by the proprietors. I’ve been in a few lavatories where there’s a stack of crap in the corner that has nothing to do with bathrooms or eating.

Comment on Public Transportation Part 1: Move all the Way into the Car by Webomatica

Webomatica — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:14:11 +0000

In some fantasy world, people would sort themselves based on how far they had to ride. Meaning, if your stop is miles away, you get a seat in the back, people who are getting off in one stop get to stand near the door. But of course it doesn’t work that way.

Comment on Elevator Etiquette Part 1: People in the Elevator Have the Right of Way by Max Surikov

Max Surikov — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:39:58 +0000

It has been taught to me that if there an empty elevator and a man and woman are waiting to get on, then a woman should get on first followed by the man. If they are getting off on the same floor, then the man gets off first followed by the woman. The reasoning is that the security needs to be established. Man has the woman’s back when she enters the elevator and then etablishes a security “perimeter” outside of the elevator.

The same thing goes for cabs. Woman in first, since the inside is secure and the man has her back. Man out first to secure the outside.

Comment on Ask Joe by Puff

Puff — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:00:28 +0000

Dear Etiquette Joe,

Earlier this week I went out on a “semi-date” and I have questions about proper guy etiquette. This is kind of a messy situation as this guy I asked out is my parents realtor and my aunt’s coworker/friend. Anyways, he had expressed interest in knowing about me, but not asking me questions directly. Instead, he would ask my mother.

I met this guy three weeks ago and there was an obvious spark between us. Given that I leave for school on the 24th of this month I went ahead and emailed him to ask if he wanted to watch a documentary with me. He agreed and we went out this past Tuesday. He seems like a shy guy, so there was conversation but it felt like there was a lot of unspoken tension between us, etc. Plus, he did ask me when I was leaving, when I would be coming back, etc. Well, right before the film started he asked me, “To what do I owe the honor of being asked to hang out with you?” I replied, “What, we can’t be friends?” He said, “Of course we can.” Then he proceeded to ask me if my mother knew about us hanging out together. I told him she knew.

Then he started invading my space. Clearly he was trying to make some kind of move, but it wasn’t as easy he thought it would be. Then he fell asleep towards the end of the documentary! I found it quite hilarious. I didn’t know whether I should wake him up or not because I REALLY had to go pee. I thought to myself, “If I go to the bathroom and he wakes up he’ll think I ditched him; but if I wake him up and he is startled and makes all this noise during the movie it could be embarrassing.” So I opted to take my chances by waking him up. Although I think he could have been faking it because he was too sound a sleeper and looked very attractive sleeping. Most people do not.

I whispered in his ear, “Wake up. Let’s go.” I really felt bad that he was either sleepy and/or bored. I mean this guy drove from La Habra (he was showing a property) to UCI just to watch this documentary that he didn’t even know what it was about. I assured him I provided the link so he could peruse it before agreeing to come. He told me he didn’t care what it was about because he just saw an invitation from me and said yes. I thought these were all brownie points to say the least.

BUT back to his sleeping. He quickly reacted to my whispering and said, “No we’re staying to watch the end.” He started to kiss my cheek and then my forehead and was hugging me. I knew where this was going so I told him that I really needed to go to the bathroom, which I DID! He said, “Ok, I’ll wait right here.” When I came back into the theater he put his arm around me for the rest of the film. When it finished we quickly got up and he didn’t let go of me the whole time. He asked, “Where did you park?” I assured him that he didn’t have to walk me to my car. He said, “You don’t want me to walk you to your car?” I said, “Okay.” We made small talk as we walked over and I told him how bad I felt that he was so tired and he had come to watch this docu with me. He apologized and said that he had just woken up super early.

Anyways, we got to my car and we just stood there hugging. It was a long lingering hug and he kissed my forehead again. I knew he wanted to kiss me, but it wasn’t forceful. I think he was waiting for me to make the move. But I didn’t think kissing on a first date was appropriate since nothing had really been said. There was no “intimate CONVERSATION.” Plus, what did he think? That I was going to be a quick lay? I mean, clearly, the issue of my leaving is a thing to think about. Sigh. Basically, I’m really REALLY interested in this guy, but it is day 3 and I have heard nothing from him. Oh and I did ask him if I would see him later this week (as in maybe while he was showing the property) and his reply was, “Yeah, I might stop around your place.”

Is this a very bad sign? Would a guy get affectionate with a girl towards the end of the date if they weren’t interested? What do forehead and cheek kissed mean anyway in the whole realm of dating etiquette? Oh and I do know for a fact that he works everyday, is studying for his brokers exam (to be taken at the end of the month), and has some health issues he was supposed to resolve today. Do you think these could all be contributing factors to his delayed response?

HELP ME! I’m trying to stay positive. Sister Friend was not much help. She just laughed at my situation.

Puff

Comment on Elevator Etiquette Part 5: Holding the Door by Common Sense Courtesy » Blog Archive » Elevator Etiquette Part 11: Reopening Closed Doors

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:42:46 +0000

[...] 2: Where to StandElevator Etiquette Part 3: Avoiding ContactElevator Etiquette Part 4: Where to LookElevator Etiquette Part 5: Holding the DoorElevator Etiquette Part 6: The Open and Close Door ButtonsElevator Etiquette Part 7: Know When You [...]

Comment on Men’s Room Etiquette Part 1: The Separation Rule by Common Sense Courtesy » Blog Archive » iPhone app: Urinal Test

Common Sense Courtesy » Blog Archive » iPhone app: Urinal Test — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:50:17 +0000

[...] haven’t read the book myself yet, but given how much Mr. Fink and I agree on Urinal Selection, I have to think there’s an excellent chance I’ll enjoy [...]

Comment on Airports and Airplanes Part 3: Walkways and Escalators by Tiffany

Tiffany — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:32:15 +0000

Thank you! I was wondering if I made this rule up while visiting NYC. I had to constantly remind my family, who obviously do not encounter many large public areas, that right is stationary and left was for moving. Just an interesating quote from a woman I encountered a few days ago. I kindly asked her to excuse me, because she was blocking the left side. She replied smugly as I was passing “if you wanted to walk, you should have taken the stairs”.