rs and never handled a potential customer like he did. But I see other social mishaps all the time. Like patrons who are rude to restaurant servers, barely making a living. They not only badger them to death over the stupidest requests, but then fail to leave an adequate tip at the end. How they can be blamed for a tough steak or cold soup, is beyond me. Get a clue and complain to management.

Being nice to someone doesn’t take hard work or any money. It takes patience and discipline. I understand the frustration and stress of simply surviving every day, but being rude and annoying can’t possibly h

I realize I’m not living in the Victorian Era where good manners were expected, but I still think a level of civility should prevail. The obvious situations where gentlemen hold open doors for ladies, are not to which I’m referring. It’s easier to explain through an example.

I’m at a store waiting for a clerk to show up at the cash register. After a few moments, she arrives and I’m about to give her my item when a woman pushes past me and throws her purchase on the counter, saying, “You take visa, right?”

I stare at her for a moment wondering what she was thinking. Then I decide to clarify the incident by saying, “I was actually here first.”

She gives me a slight smile and says, “That’s okay. I only have this one purchase. You really don’t mind, do you?”

With irritation, I reply, “Actually I do and I guess you didn’t see me,” with sarcasm literally dripping from the last phrase. She ignores me and talks to the clerk.

As she finishes her transaction, she leaves saying nothing to me and without any apology. The clerk apologizes that this incident occurred and I tell her it’s not her fault.

But this type of behavior is rampant. I see variations all the time: rudeness by clerks, customers, and the general public. Cutting in line is a mild form and fairly common, although it could lead to dire consequences, depending on the cuttee’s reaction. Road rage sometimes turning to violence, is another example caused by awful driving manners. It also is heard on the phone from corporate representatives and telemarketers. I had one call yesterday, asking me to refinance my mortgage.

“My house is paid for,” I tersely replied.

“You must have a house with a mortgage somewhere,” he responded incredulously.

“Nope, I don’t.”

“Then you’ll need to get one on it when you buy a car or something large,” he continued.

“No, they’re new and paid for. Good bye.”

“Hold on,” he pleaded. “There’s going to be a time in the near future you’ll be begging me for a mortgage on your house. Like when a big medical bill comes due.”

Now I’m intrigued. “You mean you can tell the future? Can you tell me if I’ll win the lottery too?”

Now he’s bitter. “Look here you wiseass. All I’m saying is you’ll need a mortgage. So write this down. Bill Smith with ABC Mortgage at 888-555-1212.”

Guess what I did with that valuable information? I was in sales for 25 years and never handled a potential customer like he did. But I see other social mishaps all the time. Like patrons who are rude to restaurant servers, barely making a living. They not only badger them to death over the stupidest requests, but then fail to leave an adequate tip at the end. How they can be blamed for a tough steak or cold soup, is beyond me. Get a clue and complain to management.

Being nice to someone doesn’t take hard work or any money. It takes patience and discipline. I understand the frustration and stress of simply surviving every day, but being rude and annoying can’t possibly he

he incident by saying, “I was actually here first.”

She gives me a slight smile and says, “That’s okay. I only have this one purchase. You really don’t mind, do you?”

With irritation, I reply, “Actually I do and I guess you didn’t see me,” with sarcasm literally dripping from the last phrase. She ignores me and talks to the clerk.

As she finishes her transaction, she leaves saying nothing to me and without any apology. The clerk apologizes that this incident occurred and I tell her it’s not her fault.

But this type of behavior is rampant. I see variations all the time: rudeness by clerks, customers, and the general public. Cutting in line is a mild form and fairly common, although it could lead to dire consequences, depending on the cuttee’s reaction. Road rage sometimes turning to violence, is another example caused by awful driving manners. It also is heard on the phone from corporate representatives and telemarketers. I had one call yesterday, asking me to refinance my mortgage.

“My house is paid for,” I tersely replied.

“You must have a house with a mortgage somewhere,” he responded incredulously.

“Nope, I don’t.”

“Then you’ll need to get one on it when you buy a car or something large,” he continued.

“No, they’re new and paid for. Good bye.”

“Hold on,” he pleaded. “There’s going to be a time in the near future you’ll be begging me for a mortgage on your house. Like when a big medical bill comes due.”

Now I’m intrigued. “You mean you can tell the future? Can you tell me if I’ll win the lottery too?”

Now he’s bitter. “Look here you wiseass. All I’m saying is you’ll need a mortgage. So write this down. Bill Smith with ABC Mortgage at 888-555-1212.”

Guess what I did with that valuable information? I was in sales for 25 years and never handled a potential customer like he did. But I see other social mishaps all the time. Like patrons who are rude to restaurant servers, barely making a living. They not only badger them to death over the stupidest requests, but then fail to leave an adequate tip at the end. How they can be blamed for a tough steak or cold soup, is beyond me. Get a clue and complain to management.

Being nice to someone doesn’t take hard work or any money. It takes patience and discipline. I understand the frustration and stress of simply surviving every day, but being rude and annoying can’t possibly h

y clerks, customers, and the general public. Cutting in line is a mild form and fairly common, although it could lead to dire consequences, depending on the cuttee’s reaction. Road rage sometimes turning to violence, is another example caused by awful driving manners. It also is heard on the phone from corporate representatives and telemarketers. I had one call yesterday, asking me to refinance my mortgage.

“My house is paid for,” I tersely replied.

“You must have a house with a mortgage somewhere,” he responded incredulously.

“Nope, I don’t.”

“Then you’ll need to get one on it when you buy a car or something large,” he continued.

“No, they’re new and paid for. Good bye.”

“Hold on,” he pleaded. “There’s going to be a time in the near future you’ll be begging me for a mortgage on your house. Like when a big medical bill comes due.”

Now I’m intrigued. “You mean you can tell the future? Can you tell me if I’ll win the lottery too?”

Now he’s bitter. “Look here you wiseass. All I’m saying is you’ll need a mortgage. So write this down. Bill Smith with ABC Mortgage at 888-555-1212.”

Guess what I did with that valuable information? I was in sales for 25 years and never handled a potential customer like he did. But I see other social mishaps all the time. Like patrons who are rude to restaurant servers, barely making a living. They not only badger them to death over the stupidest requests, but then fail to leave an adequate tip at the end. How they can be blamed for a tough steak or cold soup, is beyond me. Get a clue and complain to management.

Being nice to someone doesn’t take hard work or any money. It takes patience and discipline. I understand the frustration and stress of simply surviving every day, but being rude and annoying can’t possibly h

en you buy a car or something large,” he continued.

“No, they’re new and paid for. Good bye.”

“Hold on,” he pleaded. “There’s going to be a time in the near future you’ll be begging me for a mortgage on your house. Like when a big medical bill comes due.”

Now I’m intrigued. “You mean you can tell the future? Can you tell me if I’ll win the lottery too?”

Now he’s bitter. “Look here you wiseass. All I’m saying is you’ll need a mortgage. So write this down. Bill Smith with ABC Mortgage at 888-555-1212.”

Guess what I did with that valuable information? I was in sales for 25 years and never handled a potential customer like he did. But I see other social mishaps all the time. Like patrons who are rude to restaurant servers, barely making a living. They not only badger them to death over the stupidest requests, but then fail to leave an adequate tip at the end. How they can be blamed for a tough steak or cold soup, is beyond me. Get a clue and complain to management.

Being nice to someone doesn’t take hard work or any money. It takes patience and discipline. I understand the frustration and stress of simply surviving every day, but being rude and annoying can’t possibly h

rs and never handled a potential customer like he did. But I see other social mishaps all the time. Like patrons who are rude to restaurant servers, barely making a living. They not only badger them to death over the stupidest requests, but then fail to leave an adequate tip at the end. How they can be blamed for a tough steak or cold soup, is beyond me. Get a clue and complain to management.

Being nice to someone doesn’t take hard work or any money. It takes patience and discipline. I understand the frustration and stress of simply surviving every day, but being rude and annoying can’t possibly help any situation. Instead, it sets off a chain reaction that spreads like a virus through society.

The father who was yelled at in the office comes home, verbally attacks his wife and kids for no apparent reason. In turn, each of them is now in a lousy mood. The clerk who was berated over something she can’t control, ends up driving home like a maniac, almost causing several accidents. The shopper, who was nearly knocked over by a zealous housewife grabbing a sale item, now has a migraine and heart palpitations. The list of negative affects goes on and on.

So I’m proposing a moratorium on poor courtesy. Let’s make an effort to be a polite, and gentle society, once more. Be nice to your friends, co-workers and salespeople. Resist the urge to lash out or cause bad feelings. Because, ultimately, this behavior serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever. Wouldn’t you like a big smile and “thank you so much,” at the end of every interaction? I thought so. I hope you feel better already. I know I do. And thanks ever so much for taking the time to read this article. I can tell you’re a great person.