Sydney Life

It's the question on everybody's lips...no, no, not 'Are men necessary?'

What we really want to know is, what happened to good old-fashioned manners? You know, like saying 'excuse me' when you're in somebody's way. Or thanking someone for a job well done. Or smiling when somebody is talking to you.

Is chivalry dead?

If I lived in my own little perfect world, everybody would be polite. People would say hello to strangers. We would move our trolleys in the supermarket if somebody looked as if they needed to go past. We would be nice to people who work in restaurants, especially the waiters and waitresses, because everyone knows they are by and large struggling uni students.

We would open doors for people, literally, not in the corporate-speak sense. We would wave to strangers if we are walking past their house, and they notice us. Boys would put the toilet seat down. We would admit the words 'please' and 'thankyou' back into our vocabulary.

Is it just me, or are people generally rude? I don't want to appear cynical (no, not me, never!) but I honestly think I might be right (there's a first time for everything, you know!)

Today, I encountered rudeness of the worst kind. Shop assistant rudeness.

As I was purchasing my lovely new pair of shoes (ooh....you would love them...they are different shades of bronze and gold and are altogether delightful!) I was struck by the sour nature of the salesperson. Throughout the five minute purchase (credit card failure: I think someone is trying to tell me something) she did not say one word to me! Nothing! Nada, zip, zilch, zero...

Being the self-appointed public vigilante that I am, I decided to take matters into my own hands, and proceeded to have a conversation with myself.

"Hi, how are you today?"
"Oh, pretty good. Better now, that I snapped up such a bargain."
"I know, they really are a great deal. Hard to walk past."
"Exactly. Gee, you're so friendly and nice. Thanks, you just made my shopping trip ever-so-fun."
"Really? Oh gosh, I'm glad. That's all I aim to do, please our customers."
"Well, you're doing a great job.">
"Thanks. Have a wonderful day, and enjoy those shoes!"

Miss Sourpuss didn't think this was very funny, and so scowled at me for the remainder of the experience, which really ended in tears for everyone.

It prompted me to think: are we too lazy to be nice, or is this simply how we are - rude?

My friend Sam had a horror story about her ex-boyfriend, who either made a huge oversight one day, or is just plain bad-mannered.

Sam and Mr Ex lived on opposite sides of Sydney, so dates could be a tad difficult. This was heightened by the fact that Mr Ex did not drive. Sam was sick of not being able to see Mr Ex, so one night she drove from Cremorne to Cronulla to go to the movies. When they were purchasing their tickets, he made her pay her own way! A few weeks later, he broke up with her via a text message, thereby answering my question: yes, he is just bad-mannered.

But it's not a boy thing, either. My stepmother (bless her black, black soul) made such a scene in a reataurant last Christmas that we were forced to leave (she, in a huff; everyone else, from pure shame.) My brother and I always joke that somebody will 'ruin Christmas' for the whole family, and this year, she really did.

So...what does all of this have to do with uni? My point is, use the good manners your Mum and Dad taught you! They will get you everywhere: the librarians will be nice to you, the Co-Op assistants will offer you more lollies, the Union Fairies will be even more cheerful, your lecturers will appreciate that your mobile is switched off and that you're paying attention to him/her (or at least, not talking to the person next to you) and you will have lots and lots of mates because you're lovely.