Excuse Me.

Manners. They don't cost a thing do they? Although you might think they do these days. There are so many people who just aren't polite it's untrue, and that's just in the tiny corner of the world I live in. I fear that the rest of the world is becoming increasingly abrupt and ill mannered because complaining seems to be the way forward. I'm not having a go, but think about it (except for work) when was the last time you said "you're welcome" or let someone go first at the bar (obviously that one isn't applicable to work anyway) or if you can honestly say you do all the time when did someone last say it to you?

I am polite almost to a fault. Honestly, I always say please and thank you. I always say you're welcome and I like to say have a nice/good day as much as possible too. It can be argued that this is as result of working in a call centre and it is true that you're welcome and have a nice/good day are recent additions to my day to day interactions but I have always been polite. I was raised well. It's as simple as that. My mom would tell me off for not holding the door or not saying please and thank you etc. and as annoying as it is at the time, I am glad that she did. I am from a fairly common place (when I say fairly, I'm being nice it is very common) with broad accents and in your face opinions. I managed to not turn out like that at all; I am reserved and courteous at all times.

I like being polite though and I think people find it weird sometimes and it makes them smile when I say you're welcome or something like that because it's so rare these days and that is so sad. I am hopefully infecting the people I work and socialise with because it becomes something you just pick up on after a while and start doing. Obviously I'm not saying that everyone in the world is rude but I don't think it's even questionable that there is far less politeness that there used to be. Everything feels more demanded and ordered than asked for and requested.

Even smiling… That's another thing, people just don't smile anymore. Especially when asking for something how about a smile once in a while, I rarely get a smile back, there's this one woman who works in a petrol station just over the road from my office and she is miserable. I have made it a sort of personal goal to make her smile just once. And I don't mean like that. You couldn't get me drunk enough but you know what I mean, if I'm nice enough she might just smile and say thank you without sounding like the words are annoying to her. I am however assuming she is still capable of smiling…

Of all the things that I find annoying though, not holding the door for someone is the worst. There is no excuse for it if you ask me, I go for about ten seconds, if someone is more than ten seconds away I think its acceptable otherwise you are just plain rude. It's not going to kill you to show an ounce of courtesy and patience when the situation calls for it and if you're really going to moan about it, just call it your good deed for the day. In fact, think of it this way; if you have ever worked in a shop or behind a counter or in fact anywhere where you have to face or speak to customers of any kind on a regular basis you will appreciate this. You know when you have one of those days where you've had nothing but hassle and you just want someone to give you a break? Yeah, how good does it feel when someone is just nice, not even specifically nice to you but happy, polite and just nice? I don't know about you but I just want to hug those people for rescuing me from a calamitous day.

It baffles me how people just don't bother with manners though, the kind of people who have the "Well they wouldn't do it for me." attitude. That is absurd logic to me, seriously how old are you? And do you know what? It is almost always those kinds of people who are giving the hassle to the rest of the world anyway. They need to gain some kind of perspective and understand that being rude can be incredibly disheartening when it's day in and day out. If there is a problem, instead of arguing, causing a fuss and kicking off try to understand and politely discuss the options. I have never been rude to anyone and I have always managed to sort things out by being understanding and patient. What is the point in getting worked up?

People who start shouting, really make me angry. I always want to interject and find out why whoever it is feels the need to belittle a complete stranger and make a scene somewhere. I have never felt the need to fly off the handle at anyone before in my life and I never will. Feeling angry at the person who is more than likely pointlessly angry is bad enough, I feel more for the poor person on the receiving end. I have so much empathy in situations like that, like this one time (exactly as I have been saying) I was in KFC and it wasn't particularly busy but the guy serving me was trying to get someone to help him put some of my bucket together. I think he was asking for the fries to be done or something, but the girl he asked, who was doing nothing, just sat there and said "He's your customer." The guy was clearly having one of those aforementioned calamitous days and I said to him when he came back round something like; "One day someone will notice how hard you work and you'll be given a break. Keep your chin up in the meantime and thank you for my food." He said cheers and took the next order but I like to think I had an affect on his day because we have all been there and sometimes it's all you need.

I think that impatience is one of the root causes of our ever rambunctious surroundings. Why is everyone in so much of a rush that basic courtesy becomes nonessential? I don't really plod about, if I'm going somewhere then I am in as much haste as the next person but I still make the effort to let other people go through a door first or down the escalators "After you" is another one I am always saying. I don't mind someone else going in front of me in a queue and things like that because I think it’s the right thing to do. It doesn't really matter whether they are young or old, male or female, deserving of my courtesy or not everyone gets the same treatment, it's gentlemanly.

Sometimes I have been called a pushover which I can kind of understand but it doesn't really matter to me. Treat as you would wish to be treated and I adhere to that philosophy completely because as I mentioned, I hope people think "Oh that was nice of him, I think I'll start saying that" or something like that. That is obviously rather a bigheaded and slightly selfish point of view but its right. If only one person ever takes my example then at least I have affected a positive change and in turn I know that it will pass to someone else.