For Miss Manners fans

[firecat]

via jenk, a really interesting interview with Judith Martin (aka Miss Manners), in which she discusses the historical origins of American manners:

http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2005-01/civility.html

Amusing excerpt:

My column has been running in the Japan Times forever, but I don't get mail from them. I asked once, in Japan, why. They said, well, it would be rude to ask me questions.

Comments

So, then, what are manners *for*??

[bastette-joyce.livejournal.com]

**Big cheer!!**

It often boggles my mind that the people who seem most concerned with good manners think nothing of being mean to others - as long as they're witty about it, of course!

As far as I'm concerned, good manners are all about helping social relationships go smoothly, and a big component of that is sparing other people's feelings whenever possible. So when I know that a certain person believes very strongly in being polite, I am always quite taken aback if I discover that that person likes to make nasty comments, or thinks it's funny when somebody else does. This is not just hypocritical, it's downright confusing!

If you want to be a meanie, then don't pretend to be polite. Revel in your rudeness! At least that way, I'll see you coming.