Etiquettes...

I read a small pocket-sized book on ettiquettes.

I asked a few colleagues at CMU - "What does the word Etiquette bring up in your mind ?"

Answers included:
-punctuality
-dinner sense
-formal scenario behavior sense

However, this small book defined ettiquette as a way of living. It is difficult for a person to be one person with more important ppl and another person with lesser important ppl. Respect is the key to having good etiquettes. Hence, etiquettes should be implemented in every facet of life. If you are requesting something to someone then use "please" (that includes banging the ringing the bell at midnight to get in the house by housemates too!). Convey thank-you for every good deed someone did to you. Never cut queues. Treat everyone equally well- be it your boss or be it the cashier at the superstore. This is to make it a habit!

Right from pettiquettes to cell phone conversations in public places, everything involves etiquettes. Email involves etiquettes(Prof Ed Barr taught us) and of course every other activity involves etiquettes. Etiquettes even affects your children since they tend to have behavior of their parents/guardians imprinted on their minds. Even rejecting your date involves etiquettes!

One of the surprising discoveries I had while reading the book was as follows:
While you are trying to convey condolences you should not say "I can understand how you feel". Instead, the usage of "We are sorry for the demise and we shall miss him/her" is more appropriate. Ppl say things they are not supposed to say because they dont know what to say!

Another surprising discovery was that fidgeting is not regarded as a good body-language while in a lecture hall or while conversing.

Those who do consider learning more about etiquettes must read this book. It took me about 65 mins to read it entirely. About 150 pages (quarter size of a regular book's page).