I noticed a pregnant woman standing by our side as me and SIL squeezed ourselves into a jam packed train while we were on vacation in New York a couple of months ago. She was nearly squeezed in the crowd and gasping for breath. As I searched the faces of those sitting down comfortably when the elderly and physically challenged were almost being squashed to death.
I saw that those sitting ones were busy with their iPods (most of them), while the others are either e-mailing, texting, watching movies or reading on a Kindle. They were so engrossed that they did not notice the pitiable state of this pregnant woman.
In the recent past years, several discussions on being mindful of our manners in using the new communication modes have been raised. Is it immodest to ask for a date via text? When is it right to send an email? What about becoming a friend to someone on the social network that you are meeting for the first time?
While the debate of technology etiquette has become the order of the day, a lot of us tend to have thrown away the old school manners passed on to us by our grannies, parents and teachers – those decorum that are not related with the PC, but are rich with Golden Rule. Is it that technology has removed those good old rules from our brains?
The advent of technology doesn’t imply that politeness end up being the events of the past. The truth is, proper decorum can be described by these three basic, daily rules: integrity, concern and respect. Enforce these to any kind of scenario and toward the folks concerned – together with oneself and the answer could be rational.
Let’s revisit those old-days simple but worthwhile chivalry.
Give Up Your Seats
This is a practice that should be done often – giving up seats to those who may need them more than us. It is not a difficult thing to leave or give up your seat to someone, especially the elderly, physically challenged as well as the pregnant – it doesn’t matter whether or not they accept the offer, but play your own part. Before long, others would learn to do the same. Also, we should give up our seats for those carrying babies or heavy grocery containers.
Before You Enter the Elevator, Allow Those Inside to Exit
This is also a manner that seems to have gone into extinct. People could hardly wait for those inside the elevator to exit before rushing in. Common sense and courtesy demands that the exit path be made free for those coming out of the elevator, then you can enter afterwards. This also applies while walking into shops, dressing rooms as well as restaurants.
Hold Doors for Others
This courtesy does not apply only to men; it is proper to hold doors for others, especially when someone is coming behind you as you are opening a door to enter or exit. It’s a great way to show our care for others. You don’t do it to only those you know, but also to complete strangers.
Be Mindful of Your Telephone Conversation Manners
Back in those days, we were concerned about not forgetting to put down the telephone message we got from the person who called. But now that we have mobile phones to take anywhere and to do just anything, we don’t seem to be mindful about where we pick calls and when it is more appropriate to make calls. We don’t seem to keep the simplest telephone manners.
As a college student, those days I almost thought I would continue to see and be in touch with all my friends for the rest of my life. But few years after I graduated and started working. I met entirely new friends, and with time, I lost touch with almost all my college friends, even the closest one rarely got in touch with me. Then, seven years later, I resigned from my job and moved from Taiwan to US with my husband after I got married. And of course, it was just within a space of seven years, and I could not get touch with any of my friends at my former workplace in Taipei. 
