THE CORRECT formal greeting is: “How do you do?” If Mrs. Younger is presented to Mrs. Worldly, Mrs. Worldly says “How do you do?” If the Ambassador of France is presented to her, she says “How do you do?” Mrs. Younger and the Ambassador likewise say “How do you do?” or merely bow.
On very informal occasions, it is the present fashion to greet an intimate friend with “Hey!” This seemingly vulgar salutation is made acceptable by the tone in which it is said. To shout “HEY!” is vulgar, but “Heyyy, Mary” or “Heyy’a John,” each spoken in an ordinary tone of voice, sound much the same. But remember that the “Hey” is spoken, not called out, and never used except between intimate friends who call each other by the first name. Under no circumstances is the term “Yo!” and acceptable form of greeting, however intimate the friends are.
How to behave on the street
A GENTLEMAN, whether walking with two ladies or one, takes the curb side of the pavement. He should never sandwich himself between them, or else risk being called a ‘pimp’.
A young man walking with a young woman should be careful that his manner in no way draws attention to her or to himself. Too devoted a manner is always conspicuous, and so is loud talking. Under no circumstances should he take any part of her other than her arm, or grasp and grope at her. Heaven forbid he dare show too much attention by kissing her on the lips in a public place!
And it is scarcely necessary to add that no gentleman walks along the street chewing gum loudly or, if he is walking with a lady, puffing a cigar or cigarette in their direction.
A LADY when browsing a retail establishment has every right to peruse the goods at her own pace, however this does not give her the right to be rude to assistants that may just wish to make her experience more enjoyable. Instead, she must gracefully decline the offer of help or smile gratefully to acknowledge the service. Never while waiting in line has a lady the right to huff and puff or tap her foot, instead she will politely remain silent until it is her turn to be served. Remaining silent is rather important as other shop goers can be made to feel uncomfortable if they feel obligated to respond to any conversation directed towards them - this is not to say other shoppers should be ignored, just respected and given personal space.
Politeness relating to dress in public
WHEN GOING out into a public place the clothes one wears are very telling as to the personality of the wearer. In this modern age is is the current fashion to stand out, however there are some staple rules that mean everyone is content when out in the street amongst each other.
It is unacceptable for a young man to wear trousers that show any amount of their underwear, this is embarrassing both for the man himself and any ladies that may catch a glimpse!
For a woman to dress in garments that reveal too much exposed skin suggest an air of promiscuity and must be avoided at all costs. An acceptable solution is to wear tights to shadow the leg instead of exposing it and a scarf to decorate the neckline as well as protecting it from prying eyes.
For both gentlemen and women alike it is most important that when wearing ear or headphones for the purpose of listening to music the volume must be so low that the stranger next to them is unable to hear it and therefore is not disturbed. Too play anything loudly on a mobile device is considered most vulgar and not ‘cool’ in the slightest.
For gentlemen - How to behave when going out
A GENTLEMAN may wish to entertain his evenings by visiting a nighttime saloon and dancing the night away, this is all very well and good so long as the gentlemen's intentions are pure. For pursuing a woman who does no reciprocate his intentions is nothing but a bother to the woman and to the people around her.
Knowing ones limits is also a much needed skill when enjoying an alcoholic beverage, for too much affects a young mans behavior in a way his peers will never forget. It also causes unattractive rowdiness which is a nuisance to all neighbors and companions.
For ladies - how to behave when going out
A LADY will often feel the need to let off some steam and have a good time by going out with close friends and dancing into the early hours. This, as enjoyable as it may be, can also cause a lady to gain a reputation or bad name. Therefore, a woman must be careful when partaking in frivolity so as not to seem foolish or worse; needy. The amount of alcohol consumed plays a large role in deciding how respectful a lady will behave when going out, which is why it is her responsibility to imbibe only as much as her body can take without loosing control, for a woman needing aid home is not an elegant thing.
Unrelating to the subject of politeness - an air of caution should be had if you are a lady going out after dark, as men roaming the streets make them unsafe and safety in numbers should become an important aspect of your night.
How to be polite on public transport
IF EVER traveling on public transport the most important rule is to always think of personal space. It is elementary that one should never sit too close to the person next to us, nor should we ignore them and therefore appear rude; a courteous smile should suffice. I should hope you would already be aware that one frailer than oneself is a priority and therefore should a shortage of seats arise, they must be thought of first.
For both gentlemen and women alike it is most important that when wearing ear or headphones for the purpose of listening to music the volume must be so low that the stranger next to them is unable to hear it and therefore is not disturbed. Too play anything loudly on a mobile device is considered most vulgar and not ‘cool’ in the slightest.