Build a Civil WorldBRIDGES SCHOOL OF PROTOCOL ETIQUETTE BLOG
|
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), kids benefit from etiquette reminders because their bad manners aren't always intentional. They often don't realize it's impolite to make comments about a person's age or appearance.
Remarking on Someone's Appearance: Does Honesty Rule? Believe it or not, some parents defend their kid's remarks about someone's age or appearance because they believe that kids have a right to express their honest opinion. "Grannie, why does your face have so many brown spots and why do you walk with a cane? Grannie, are you old?" These parents defend 'honest' remarks on behalf of their children because their words reflect the truth about the age spots on Grannie's face and her bent posture. For such parents, their children's "call it as we see it" statements should be acknowledged without censor. They extend this argument to their attitude toward Grannie's ability to cope. She should know that "kids will be kids", and they expect her to ignore these remarks or swallow her hurt feelings. Is it OK to cause other people to feel hurt if we comment negatively and out loud in front of others about their appearance? The same parents who advocate "total honesty" for their children are also ones who dismiss the cultural norm that we take responsibility for the effect of our behavior on others. "Well, we can't be responsible for other people's feelings. That's their thing, not ours." In every culture, without exception, social development requires all members to be aware of the feelings of others and refrain from airing tactless, taunting remarks about people's appearance. When commenting on someone's appearance, we want to express a positive perspective that makes them feel good about themselves. To help your child develop good social skills (the ones that get them noticed for all the right reasons) tell them outright that it's better to say nothing about a person's appearance, and be a role model in teaching your children about the common courtesies of life.
0 Comments
What is Afternoon Tea?
In the United States, many people refer to afternoon tea as 'high tea'. The notion that high tea is an elaborate affair with fancy pastries, scones and cucumber sandwiches, is not correct in the historical sense. Surprisingly, afternoon tea is also known as 'low tea' because it was served in the afternoon on low tables. The menu is light as noted above, and teas include both black as well as herbal teas like chamomile and peppermint. The simplest form of afternoon tea is cream tea -- a meal of tea, scones and cream. Historically, afternoon tea came to be a 'ladies' social occasion in the Victorian Age when evening meals were eaten around 8 or 9 p.m. The young Duchess of Bedford is said to have asked the cook to prepare an afternoon snack to tide her over until dinnertime. The charming array of light foods, pastries and teas caught on, and soon became a ritual 'afternoon' tea party popular with members of elite Victorian households. What is High Tea? High tea was served at 5p.m. on high tables. High tea was more of a working-class family meal than a fancy social gathering. Hearty foods such as steak and kidney pie, potatoes and onion cakes, hearty breads, and fish dishes such as pickled salmon were on the evening menu. Afternoon Tea Today Afternoon tea is now enjoyed by all socioeconomic groups. It can be an elaborate event or a pause in the day to share a simple menu of cookies and coffee or tea with a treasured friend. The spirit of afternoon tea is found in warm, pleasant moments of conversation and connection. International Tea Day is celebrated on May 21st. Wine Service: How Much to Tip Despite the controversy about tipping practices in the United States, most diners tip 18-20% for wine service on the total amount of the bill, including tax. Earlier etiquette advice to 'tip only on the food, and exclude the wine and the tax' is outdated. Both bartenders and sommeliers consider a tip to be a customer's assessment of their job. Most diners leave a 20% post-tax tip regardless of the price of the bottle. A reliable guideline is to tip as if the cost of the bottle of wine were included in the bill.
Wine Service Tipping Etiquette
The purpose of business dining events is to relax and enjoy the food, correct?
Not correct. When dining or socializing in a business context, it's never about the food. When attending business dining events, you are on the job. The goal of business dining is to create a positive connection that will lead to a business relationship. Even in today's relaxed social climate, it remains true that promotions or negotiations have been lost due to poor table manners and lack of comportment and confidence in a business dining situation. Check your Knowledge of Business Dining Yes or No:
The product presentation should occur after everyone has ordered, and should last about ten minutes. How well you succeed in getting a raise depends on your preparation, so mentally prepare yourself to address the issue by realizing that asking for a raise is a part of your career skill set. Managers handle these conversations as part of their job, and your boss expects you to initiate this conversation after you've been at the company for at least a year. Some companies don't initiate a yearly salary review, so, "if you don't ask, you don't get."
Asking for a raise can challenge your deeply held beliefs about money. Some people have a deep seated fear, or even an unconscious aversion to the subject of money. After all, conversation about money is one of our societal taboos. Everybody Works for Money If you find that you really don't like to talk about money, then work to develop a healthy attitude toward money and work. Check your attitude to find out why you are afraid of asking for a raise. Do you believe you are entitled to a raise out of a sense of injustice? If so, your defensive attitude will come across to your boss. Your goal should be to look forward to asking for a raise for the right reasons. This is the one conversation that you should initiate with self confidence and a sense of what you're worth. Make sure you know the going rate for your job. Always remember that asking for a salary increase for great performance on the job is always going to be on you, and not your employer. The risks of secondhand smoke are well known, so declaring your home a no-smoke zone is socially acceptable. These days, most smokers are accustomed to going outside to light up since most public venues are nonsmoking. Vaping, on the other hand, can be more difficult to control, especially when people insist that vaping is smokeless, so "it shouldn't be a problem."
According to the surgeon general, the chemical mix of aerosol, including nicotine, released by e-cigarettes have been found in secondhand aerosol. If you don't want guests to vape in your home, gently remind them of the facts and ask them to step outdoors. |