Etiquette Bag http://EtiquetteBag.com Etiquette & Manners about Wedding, Invitation, Business, Telephone, Social and lots more.... en-us Copyright 2007, Etiquette Bag team. 240 Mind your manners in class http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=80066 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:40 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=80066 In every class there is a trend of people who persistently break the rules of classroom etiquette. You know the type. It would be fine if during the whole semester, the annoying act happened once or twice - even three times could be dealt with. But when it's the same people arrogantly ignoring the learning environment, it becomes a problem. Here are some that tend to get on my nerves, and I'm sure everyone else's, as well.

Counting the number of times someone says "like" or "um" in a presentation. The biggest fear among students is public speaking. An awkward pause, or stumbling throughout the presentation should be expected. But why is it that some people find it entertaining to disrespect their peers?

I'm not stupid. I can see someone holding up their fingers when I nervously insert "um" or "like." When I see that, it makes me want to give up (or call the jerk out). If you tend to do this, please, keep it to yourself. I'd like to see you presenting.

]]> The Play-Date Etiquette http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79946 Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:16 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79946 Last week, I found myself in a parenting pickle. My new “mommy friend” brought her 3-year-old daughter over for a play date. All was going well until I looked up and found my son in a puddle of tears.Through his sobs, he said that little Ashley hit him and took away his toy. Ashley just sat there, bemused. She’s older, bigger and tough as nails. My instinct was to get involved and protect my son.

But then I stopped in my tracks. Is it really my place to discipline someone else’s child? Is it socially acceptable to sternly scold another child with a firm “no”? Some might argue yes, especially because, in this instance, Ashley’s mother just shrugged it off with a dismissive, “They’re just kids.”

It got me thinking  the stakes are high when it comes to “play-date etiquette,” so much so that often times, adult friendships fray, or worse, end forever over friction among the kiddies. So what is a girl to do if she loves her friend but her friend’s kid, not so much?

]]> Ex-Etiquette - Who gets to host the birthday parties? http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79696 Sat, 6 Mar 2010 10:52 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79696 Q: My ex and I do not agree about who is to host our children's birthday parties. We both agree it would be nice to have one party with all the friends and family, but she insists on having them all. She tells me that I can have my own party for the kids, but if I do, the kids' relatives and friends won't want to go to two parties. The kids have asked to have "some parties at Mom's and some at Dad's." How can we resolve this?

A: By following the 10 rules of good ex-etiquette  starting with rule No. 1, "Put the children first" and progressing very carefully through the other nine, which includes things like rule No. 5, "Don't be spiteful" and rule No. 8, "Use empathy when problem-solving."

Having two separate parties is the answer if parents can't get along at all. But if you can, which you have implied, using the "You can just have your own party" tactic because you are unwilling to consider a middle ground seems pretty self-serving to us  especially if the kids have already said they would like "some parties at Mom's and some at Dad's."

]]> Hopefuls, mind your manners http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79486 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 07:55 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79486 With UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) campaigning in full swing, the Martlet couldn’t help but notice some of the candidates behaviour was, well, rude. Harsh words, yes. But appropriate, unfortunately. At times, candidates have behaved like kids at recess wearing their parents’ best power suits. These people are hard to take seriously. Although, to be fair, maturity is relative in politics, and behaviour in “grown-up” politics is rarely any better.

By the time this editorial hits print, we’ll have seen a new federal and provincial budget  likely to be the Olympic equivalent of your first credit card bill after Christmas. And surrounding them will doubtlessly be media clouds of rhetoric, lying, some pouting and probably even some foot-stomping.

With those kinds of role models, perhaps it’s a bit unfair to expect more out of our UVSS representatives. Maybe. But the Martlet doesn’t think so. And so we’re going to give some free advice to current and future candidates on how to conduct yourself, both while running and while representing.

]]> Ex takes the cake when it comes to hosting kids' parties http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79321 Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:21 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=79321 Q: My ex and I do not agree about who is to host our children's birthday parties. We both agree it would be nice to have one party with all the friends and family, but she insists on having them all. She tells me that I can have my own party for the kids, but if I do, the kids' relatives and friends won't want to go to two parties. The kids have asked to have "some parties at Mom's and some at Dad's." How can we resolve this?

A: By following the 10 rules of good ex-etiquette — starting with rule No. 1, "Put the children first" and progressing very carefully through the other nine, which includes things like rule No. 5, "Don't be spiteful" and rule No. 8, "Use empathy when problem-solving."

]]> How good are your bedroom manners? http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78979 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:31 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78979 Admit it, sharing your bed with someone is quite a special affair. It doesn’t matter whether you have been in a relationship for a long time or just entered into one, the fact that you are sharing a personal space with someone means you can’t be blasé about it.

However, despite sharing mindboggling chemistry, couples often lose the plot when it comes to bedroom matters. And the reasons can be something as simple as not following certain etiquettes while being in bed. Think about it, how many times have your partner made you grit your teeth with his snoring or sleep talking? These are just some of the minor irritants. The trick lies in not letting these romance-busters impact your otherwise sexciting life.

]]> Creativity good for community http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78788 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:49 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78788 The City of Nanaimo’s parks and recreation department deserves kudos for providing an opportunity for young people to get active. Instead of plunking themselves down on the couch for a pro-D day of video games Monday, about two dozen youths took part in the inaugural Picnic in the Park snowboard rail jam contest.

Organizers hauled in truckloads of snow and ice from Nanaimo arenas and laid out a snowboard course on a hill in Bowen Park. Community businesses kicked in some prizes, the unseasonably warm weather co-operated and by all accounts, everyone had a good time sliding down the slope.

It wasn’t a big event, but organizers were happy with the turnout. It was something different for kids to do on a day off and could be the start of something special. At least one participant had never experienced snowboarding and instead of his parents bearing the expense of taking their son to the mountain, the city brought the mountain to him.

]]> Etiquette class teaches art of social behavior http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78616 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:08 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78616 Etiquette class teaches art of social behaviorIn Chris Stein's class, children can be whomever they want: Taylor Swift, a Jonas Brother, SpongeBob SquarePants, President Obama.

Stein teaches social etiquette and table manners to elementary and middle school students. Urbana Middle is scheduled for classes in late March.

Classes have about 18 students, from 8 to 14 years old. Topics range from listening skills and good host and guest behaviors to thank-you notes and common courtesies.

Starting with social niceties, the students learn introductions and welcoming behavior, including handshakes. The children practice with each other, Stein said, making eye contact, smiling, "that kind of thing." Role playing introductions help break the ice for shy children.

]]> Kids learn what it takes to dine with big shots http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78401 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:30 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78401 In Room 205 at Parkade Elementary School, 21 giggling fifth-graders imagine a dream date: dinner with the president.The students explain to their instructor, Sky Jimenez, that they would wear nicer clothes and behave better than if they were joining friends at Taco Bell or Golden Corral. A White House dinner would include no funny games, Jimenez says — no taking the top off the salt shaker, no sticking your finger in the food to taste it.

Kids learn what it takes to dine with big shots

After all, Secret Service agents would be watching. “What would they do if you did something wrong?” Jimenez asks. “Shoot you!” one student shouts. “Not shoot you,” Jimenez says, “but kick you out.” This is the 16th year Jimenez has been teaching Parkade fifth-graders proper dinner etiquette and other social skills.

She leads the “Celebrate the Dream” program every January and February in recognition of Black History Month, teaching students about past civil rights leaders and connecting them with black professionals in Columbia — and preparing them to dine with those mentors.

]]> Texting etiquette http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78235 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:09 GMT http://EtiquetteBag.com/article.asp?articleid=78235 Texting etiquetteI remember my first cell phone. It was one of those cheap, gray flip-jobs that Virgin Mobile had manufactured for poor kids like me. That phone was the first breath of true freedom I’d taken in my overprotective Catholic childhood.

Shortly after I had gotten my phone and passed around my number, I became aware of this freedom’s dark side. Day and night for the past six years, I have been slowly inundated under an ever-growing sea of inane quips coming in at 160 characters or less.

Commonly referred to as the text, these mini messages are the subject of the greatest ridicule and revilement. Newcomers to the texting game often don’t know how to play by its rules.

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