Is it that hard to say "thank you"?

GSRstilez said:
A truly on-going pet peeve of mine, the simple gesture of "thank you" at the appropriate time is absent from many people's vocabulary.





Specifically, when I hold a door for someone. Ok, if its a very busy place and there are constant people in and out, the door is always being held regardless. However, I make it a point to hold a door extra long, a few seconds, if I see older folks or a female walking towards the door. Now, I do this out of pure respect and helpfulness. With the older folks, simply because many are notably weaker and for the females, out of old-fashioned habits. For instance, I get the car door for my girlfriend whenever we go out.





Anyways, this gesture of mine goes unnoticed by many; almost like the "deserve" it. Many times I will hold a door for someone with pretty much nobody else around and it will be just silence. 9 times out of 10, I will respond with a firm, "Your welcome", and let the door go.





Am I overreacting or should I start accepting that some people either don't care or just simply don't have manners?



I hate that common courtesy is a dying thing. My kids will definitely be taught the "sir" or "ma'am" that I was brought up with. I do a lot of similar things, and I too am taken aback when people are just rude or inconsiderate of others for no reason. People these days feel entitled to yell at someone just because they got pickles on their burger and didn't want them. It's sad.
 
cwcad said:
I too am of the old school. I do the polite thing because of upbringing. That is what my parents taught me to do. In fact that is what my parents practiced.



Many years went by before I realized that I do this for all the reasons that you mentioned but... foremost, I do this because it is right. Once I got this thru my head it was easier to let the ungrateful go on about their business without comment.



Knowing that you are right, respectful, and polite in all things is satisfaction enough. Acknowledgement of those things is icing on the cake.





I could not have said it any better myself :clap: . I teach my kids the same, do not do something looking for praise. do it out of the goodness of your heart. as long as you know you are a good person and treat people correctly that is all that matters. being polite is the only way to fly in my book. I am a huge believer in Karma and the fact that we should treat people as we would like to be treated. to me this motto has gotten me through some very rough times growing up and has made me a well rounded person according to my wife, friends , co-workers and everybody else that gets to know me. I am a very modest person who does not look for fame, glory or recognition. just the fact that I am happy with who I am makes every day on this planet a great experience. sorry to be so long winded.
 
Ether you have lots of money or you are two steps from being homeless. I know a lot of people that work two jobs just to get by & they are physically & mentally tired. And even so they are nice good people and everyone does have bad hair days. I try not to remember people on there bad days, try to look on the good side of things and try understanding. WE all make mistakes.

There is evil out there even more so if you look for it but its best to show leadership in doing good deeds the rewards are far better.

One good way of looking at being rued and antagonistic is its better then being a smiling covert backstabber.
 
1 Clean WS6 said:
Move south Sean...southern hospitality is very real..



Yeah, that's the truth. My wife (from Memphis) is always saying how you can tell Southerners from Yankees by how how friendly and polite they are. For the most part it really is true. From people saying "hi, how are you?" and actually wanting to know, to kids who say "sir" and "ma'am", it's a striking cultural difference.
 
I'll third that about the South. I'm still not used to it all of the time, particularly in public. Sometimes I start to worry that I may come across as cold and aloof because I'm so used to not even being looked at let alone frequently asked how I'm doing or if I can be helped with something. :o
 
Great things discussed Autopia :clap





This is a real eye opener to see people from all over responding. I guess up here in the North-East, its a different culture than other areas. I really never thought about people having a bad or tired day. I just took it as they were too "cool" to say thanks. I also see how my "Your welcome" is just fueling a fire more than anything.





Furthermore, Mike, you are dead on! That is one thing I love about the South soo much. I really enjoy the genuiness of people and how accomodating they are.
 
GSRstilez said:
Furthermore, Mike, you are dead on! That is one thing I love about the South soo much. I really enjoy the genuiness of people and how accomodating they are.



Well, except for the Yankees who've moved down here, that is. ;) :grinno: :lol :dance :woohoo: :D
 
Scottwax said:
Well, except for the Yankees who've moved down here, that is. ;) :grinno: :lol :dance :woohoo: :D





Including me, down here a year already, yep, we're making our way to Florida very quickly! :hide: ;) I guess the absence of "How are you?", "Thank you", and "You're welcome" may follow as well. :(
 
Scottwax said:
Well, except for the Yankees who've moved down here, that is. ;) :grinno: :lol :dance :woohoo: :D



Heehee...being a Brooklyn born Marietta native (I guess I'm a southern fried yankee) I say the same thing to every yankee that moves south....assimilate or move back. :grinno:



A few things I've learned since moving down here (most dealing with food)...



Good Italian food is hard to find out of the NY, NJ, CT area. You take for granted how good the food is at almost every restaurant there.



Southern BBQ is a damn fine "almost" replacement for the above.



Don't ask for a "grinder"...you'll get a blank stare back. I think that is more a CT thing.



Greek diners are good but you ain't lived 'til you done had Waffle House.



I am "eye-talian".



Saturday is for football Sunday is for church....period.



Grits rule.



Drive fast when you have a clear highway or get off the road.



Rush hour means sitting in traffic for one and a half hours to go 12 miles...everyday.



9 out of every 10 women are drop dead gorgeous.



Winter means that 2 inches of snow will cause mass panic, distruction and general mayhem.



#8 is the second coming.
 
[quote name='1 Clean WS6']



A few things I've learned since moving down here...







9 out of every 10 women are drop dead gorgeous.

QUOTE]



I don't quite understand the reason, but the one visit I made to Atlanta certainly proved that one to me.
 
[quote name='SK2003TypeS']I think people's manners in general are on the decline. The sincere "Thank you" you get from the mother with 2 wild kids and 1 in the stroller make up for the rude ones I hold the doors for.



QUOTE]

On the other end I remember my wife with our kids a I was trailing behind them in the mall as she entered through the door, struggling to manuever the stroller and hold the door while watching my older one walk himself through as well. No one cared to help out for a second or hold the door in front of her.

I always say people are in thier own world and just dont care about anyone but themselves.
 
Accumulator said:
Yeah, that's the truth. My wife (from Memphis) is always saying how you can tell Southerners from Yankees by how how friendly and polite they are. For the most part it really is true. From people saying "hi, how are you?" and actually wanting to know, to kids who say "sir" and "ma'am", it's a striking cultural difference.



I'm from the boston area and now live in NH. The people up here are terrible. My wife is from Maryland and she can really tell. People(some) up here really are just mean! :eek:
 
I live in SE Ohio and have my entire life. I visited my aunt and uncle in Louisiana in '97 and was amazed at the sense of community down there. My uncle announced he was going to have a BBQ and invite the neighborhood- we thought he was merely joking and if at best a neighbor or two would show up. Not the case- at least 20 people showed up from his street and everyone brought something with them. Honestly southern hospitality does exist and from my experience it is a better way to live. My girlfriend of 4 years and myself are looking to relocate once she completes her undergrad. degree.
 
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