Don’t know how many of my readers are iPhone users, but just in case you wanted to test out your Men’s Room Etiquette knowledge, there’s a free app[...]

Are you lonely, or something?

How many times has this happened to you? You walk into an almost empty theater. You choose a good seat in a middle row, to get a great view of the show. Two minutes later, another person walks[...]

Talking to Strangers

There’s nothing wrong with striking up casual chat on elevators with people you don’t know. But remember the boundaries of casual chat. If the person seems like he or she would rather be left alone, accept that, and leave him or her alone. Just because you feel like brightening someone’s[...]

You have responsibilities when others are courteous to you

Last week, I talked about the “rules” for holding doors for others. Now I’d like to briefly discuss the appropriate reaction on the part of the recipient of this courtesy.

For starters, the other person is holding the door to prevent it from slapping you in the face. He or she is not holding it so that you can strut through like royalty. So extend your hand[...]

Holding a door doesn’t have to be complicated

1. Holding for men vs. women, young vs. old, etc.: Just hold the door for everyone. Easiest thing to remember.
2. Distance: This one varies from person to person. If someone is only a few steps behind you, obviously you should hold the door. If they are ten to twenty seconds from reaching you, you have to make a decision. At what point does being nice to someone else start to impede your progress through the day? You can spend several minutes a day waiting for others to reach doors, but you shouldn’t feel an obligation to do so. I say[...]
   

Don’t get in line until you’re ready

Retail store lines are getting longer all the time. Economic crisis or not, people are still out shopping, as far as I can tell. Which is why it’s important for us all to remember the rules of checkout lines.

Rule number one: You’re either in the line, or you’re not.[...]

Don’t pull the rug out from under me

Frequent flyer programs were invented, obviously, to increase customer loyalty. Give people an incentive to fly with you in the form of a free flight every once in a while, and they’ll keep coming back to you instead of one of your competitors.

Some years ago, marketers came up with the brilliant plan to increase this loyalty even further, by offering miles for all sorts[...]

There’s no such thing as privacy on an elevator

When there are people you know and people you don’t know in an elevator car, be aware of some conversation guidelines.

Don’t assume that everyone on the elevator wants to overhear your reenactment of last night’s escapades. Most polite people will at least lower their voices once the doors close to imply that their continuing conversation is meant for the person being addressed only. This is perfectly acceptable. Loud, abrasive talk, especially about personal matters or subjects that would offend your mother, is a bit out of hand. [...]

Two wheels don’t make you special

I recently read that in Poland, riding a bicycle drunk can land you in prison, just as driving a car while intoxicated would. This has sparked “lively debate” about whether or not the rules for cyclists should be so strict.

Of course they should.

Cyclists are always complaining that[...]

Don’t just think of yourself when eating with others

I’m not a fan of large group dinner gatherings. For years, I thought it was just a general dislike of people that led me to this preference, but since I moved to California a while back, and “I’m not a fan” evolved into “I’m really not a fan”, and is now fast approaching “I loathe”, I thought maybe I should investigate what the real problem[...]