Monday, May 31, 2010

Manners maketh the man! And the woman too!

There's a lot of controversy these days when it comes to good manners.  Too many people, and this includes the media, seem to think and to say that good manners are old-fashioned, and that our culture has undergone so many changes that it's hard to work out what are good manners and what are not!

Now we, of this group, are of the old-fashioned views and standards.  Good manners and etiquette are timeless, and don't have to undergo such radical changes as we're being convinced is necessary today.   Being old-fashioned when it comes to manners, brings with it, feelings of security and in many ways feelings of safety.    

We're being persuades that in today's society it's necessary for us all to "understand" youth (anyone from 5 to 50 it seems) and their behaviour and allow them to be rude, to bully, to threaten, and to be totally obnoxious, without raising a finger.  As for questioning them, we're told to shut-up and move on.

I'm a great believer in good manners.  When it comes to behaviour with and between people.   And this includes, dare I suggest it, table manners and etiquette.   For it's no longer seen to be "cool" or "with it" for people to display good table manners.   People eat with their knives rather than knives and forks, and their fingers.  Don't get me wrong, finger food has to be eaten by finger, otherwise most of the enjoyment is lost.  But not when you are in the restaurant of the Sheraton, or the Langham, or the Windsor.  But it happens all the time.

A lady who is well known Australia wide, as well as Asia, is considered to be an expert in manners and etiquette.  Louise Percy of the Percy Institute situated in Western Australia, has all the answers.   I first met Louise Percy some years ago when I attended to short afternoon tea/etiquette course at her home.   A group of ladies shared afternoon tea and learned many of the little things that make up good manners at the table, and we were all impressed with Louise's genuineness and sincerity.


Why not visit her blog and get a "taste" of good manners and other matters, at   http://mannersandothermatters.blogspot.com/