This might be satisfying, but it wouldn't exactly be polite. Violators beware! (Photo by Mark Wallace) Once upon a time, the term "etiquette" referred to knowing which fork one used at the dinner table (the one on the outside), or which side of the sidewalk a gentleman should walk on when escorting a young lady (the side closest to the curb). Lately, etiquette's become something of a dirty word, though. At best, it evokes a nostalgic sentiment for the "good old days;" at worst, a general disdain for a kind of archaic protocol that seems to have no place in the modern world. And while it's true that, nowadays, few people outside of historical reenactment societies need to know the proper way to leave a calling card, the art of civility and good manners is not yet obsolete. Consider the Internet troll who launches a flame war on your comments page. What's the proper way to tell them to mind their own beeswax without making yourself look like a fool? Then there's the sticky situation of how to politely deny your diabetic relative's request for marijuana. Not to mention the ever-important question of how to convey to the woman you've just walked into your apartment building after a date that you're not a rapist. No, this isn't Amy Vanderbilt's or Emily Post's brand of etiquette (even though Miss Vanderbilt’s “Book of Etiquette” was published on this date in 1952). But even in a post-Lewinsky world, it seems we still have some need for decorum (as so aptly demonstrated by the formal rebuke of Republican Representative Joe Wilson after his "You lie!" remark during President Obama's address to the Congress on health care). So turn off your cell phone when attending the theater, don't text while at the movies (we can still see the glow of the screen even if the ringer’s off), turn your radio down at the drive-thru, and send your thank you cards via e-mail  -- just make sure to claim it's in the name of saving the environment, and not because you're too lazy to buy a card, write a message, find a stamp, lick the envelope, and send it. Suggested Sites... Emily Post’s Etiquette Daily - http://www.etiquettedaily.com/ The Urban Etiquette Handbook - the answers to all your modern conundrums -- like who walks the bride down the aisle when there are two of them. Dear Prudence - Slate's advice column on manners and morals. The Core Rules of Netiquette - how to deal with forwards, flaming, and the dreaded caps lock key. Modern Manners Guy - podcast about modern manners issues.

Directory categories: Etiquette, Netiquette, Cell Phone Etiquette, Emily Post, Wedding Etiquette

Archived under: 1950s, Anniversaries, Authors, Books, Eating, Etiquette, Society and Culture, Telephones, Writers, dating

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"So...you come here, often? (Photo by Adriano Agulló) Dear Single Men of America, Please don't ask me if I come here often, or if I’m tired from running through your mind all day. I’m pretty sure the best pick-up line I ever heard was "Hey, what’s the worst pick-up line you’ve ever heard?" Most pick-up lines are just plain creepy and fall flat. They’re often blatantly demeaning or sexist, and they show a general disregard for the art of conversation. And yet, they somehow persist. Oh, God, do they persist. So please, don't send me a "woo" on that free dating site, or a free eCard in honor of International Flirting Week. And if I'm out drinking with the girls, and we accidentally make eye contact, believe me, it’s an accident; it's not an invitation to tango. Please, let me get through just one Valentine’s Day week in peace, and in return, I promise I'll let you know if you are indeed the hottest thing since sunburn, or if I need to check your tag to see if you were made in heaven. In short, even if I'm drowning, don't throw me a line, Thanks, Jessica Suggested Sites... Anti-Valentine's Day sites - resources for those who are against Valentine's Day, from the Yahoo! Directory. The Worst Pick-Up Lines - find a surefire line to ruin a perfectly good evening. Free eCards for International Flirting Week - ...if you're sure you really want to go down that path.

Directory categories: Personal Ads and Dating Services, Dating Icebreakers, Internet Romance, Flirting

Archived under: Communication, Etiquette, Flops, How-To, Humor, In Character, Men, Valentine´s Day, Women, dating

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Emily Post in NY, circa 1890 (From Emily Post Institute) Her name is synonymous with good manners and etiquette -- an icon of all that is proper, impeccable, and decorous. She tirelessly advised anyone who sought her guidance on innumerable matters: personal to political; religious to romantic; soup to nuts. Her passion for good taste and superior comportment has continued to burn brightly even after her death: her legacy carried on by relatives and legions of fans who continue to craft and refine her rules of etiquette for the modern age. We speak of Emily Post, the grande dame of gracious living, and a woman who, at least to us, sounds like an insufferable know-it-all. A true lady never reveals her age and, in keeping with that, Emily Price was born into a life of privilege on October 3, 27, or 30, in 1872 or maybe 1873 (depending on the source). Clearly high-maintenance from youth, Emily attended finishing school in New York City and married society banker Edwin Main Post in 1892. The couple divorced in 1905, however, as a result of Edwin's significantly less-than-polite affair with a stripper. Emily needed money and turned to writing newspaper articles, light fiction, and humorous travel books until the watershed moment in 1922 when her book "Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home" was published. It was an instant bestseller, went through ten revisions and 89 printings, and firmly cemented her reputation as great big wisenheimer. She devoted her life to making lazy, unmannered slobs feel like hell for behaving like imbecilic morons. Unsure about which utensils to use for cream-filled desserts, or how to secure a lost strand of spaghetti? Emily Post can set your ignorant self straight. Wonder what "festive attire" means? Ask Emily, you half-wit. Table manners need tuning? Emily's there, to remind you of your errors. Forget to wipe your sweat off the treadmill at the gym? Emily will school your ass. To be honest, this broad sounds like a real drag -- of course, that's just our admittedly uncouth opinion, but at least we're not alone. Suggested Sites... The Emily Post Institute - Emily Post's legacy continues with advice, books, articles, seminars, and discussions on etiquette for the way we live today. Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home - online version of Emily Post's seminal 1922 work. What Would Emily Post Do? - Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, blogs on matters of modern etiquette. YouTube: Arthur and Agnes - Jackie Gleason and Alice Ghostly discuss relationship etiquette according to Emily Post in this classic sketch. Etiquette Hell - archive of stories submitted by everyday people tired of the selfish, rude antics of their fellow man.

Directory categories: Emily Post, Etiquette, Netiquette, Wedding Etiquette, Cell Phone Etiquette

Archived under: Authors, Biographies, Education, Emily Post, Etiquette, How-To, Society and Culture, Writers

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(Photo by Johnry) "When are you expecting?!" "I'm not." Ouch! We've all experienced that kind of moment -- an uncomfortable encounter that left us feeling awkward and regretful -- so it seems only right that such a universal experience be commemorated with a holiday. And so we give you Awkward Moments Day. We just can't seem to get enough of embarrassing situations -- when it's the other guy. Our attraction to social stumbles influences television programming, and the Internet is a repository of disastrous encounters between celebrities and struggling interviewers. But who needs TV and celebrities when real life offers up plenty of cringe-inducing moments via pets, proms, and weddings? Awkward moments are a staple of human interaction, and we each navigate them in our own way, whether as a call to greatness, a business opportunity, an area for improvement, or as art. Some make a case for avoiding them altogether by replacing personal interaction with instant messaging. But if you just don't know how to go about facing them, help is out there. As for us, we believe that awkward moments are a unifying force of humanity. Embrace them! Send a card to your friends to commemorate this day of unity! Really, you should. If you don't, you'll just make us feel all, well, awkward. Suggested Sites... Most Awkward Interviews - Double Viking's collection of painful celebrity moments. Time: Top 10 Awkward Moments - our favorite Best of 2007 list. The Show Works - buy the book about awkward moments or submit your own.

Directory categories: Etiquette, "Worst of . . ." Humor, Relationship Advice, Humorous Quotations

Archived under: Etiquette, Holidays, Humor, Relationships, Society and Culture

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(Photo by vovchychko) Dear Jerk Who Parked So Close We Couldn't Open Our Doors, You've parked us in for the last time, Mr. (or Ms.) Bad Parker! For months, we've watched you take up multiple spaces, park in compact spots with your giant SUV, and generally disregard the lines. We've wondered about who (if anyone) taught you to drive. We've questioned your eyesight, your sense of civic responsibility, and your sanity. We've given you dirty looks and fake citations, and we've even posted unflattering images of your parking abilities on a variety of sites devoted to bad parkers like yourself. All to no avail -- it seems that you will never learn. So today, we officially give up. You win. We cannot compete with your monstrous inconsideration, and we cannot show you the error of your ways. Instead, we're getting smart -- a Smart Car, that is. This year they're finally available in the U.S. and we're prepared to suck in and squish ourselves into the teensy 8-foot auto. Sure, we might not have room for our thimble collection. Granted, it might not feel like the mas macho car on the road, and maybe we'll never push all three cylinders to that elusive top speed of 85 mph. But it'll all be worth it when we're able to park sideways. Suggested Sites... Parkly.net - printable citations and an online database of bad parking images. Flickr: Bad Parking - pictures of terrible parking jobs from around the world. Bad Parking - blog documenting bad parkers in their natural habitat. smart - three cylinders, 60 miles per gallon, 85 mph top speed, and only eight feet long. Available in the United States in 2008. How the Smart Car Works - the history, features, and technical information about the dainty vehicles.

Directory categories: Smart Cars, Bad Parking, Bad Drivers, Driving, Microcars

Archived under: Autos, Etiquette, In Character, Parking, Smart Cars, Transportation

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