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The Worst (And Most Common) Etiquette Mistakes

Posted Mon, Mar 02, 2009, 10:53 am PST
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  • Party Poopers  When you receive an invitation to a dinner or party--whether by Evite, voicemail, or casual email--RESPOND. Yeah, that’s what that little “RSVP” thing means. Everyone knows it, yet it’s amazing how many don’t respond. Even for weddings! Planning a party or event requires a lot of work, so do the host a simple favor and let them know if you're coming or not.
  • Nickel & Dimin’  How annoying is it when you go to dinner with four or more people, the check finally arrives, and one of your meal companions begins to divvy up the check down to the last penny? Sure, we get that Sally had a shrimp salad, and Janet had two iced teas, while Beth only had water, and you ordered a slice of peach pie (a la mode, which is extra). The point is, if you go out to dinner with a group, be prepared to split the bill more or less evenly. If there's an outstanding cost differential, fine, estimate it and be done with it. The person who spends twenty minutes dividing the bill to the dime comes off as a cheapskate –- and kills the festive mood.
  • The Line-Up  Lines are a fact of life. At the post office, the supermarket, just about everywhere these days. For starters, moaners who huff and gripe about standing in a line of three people for all of five minutes are tops on our list. Get over yourself -- if you don’t have a few minutes to wait to buy that loaf of bread, then pick it up another time. Another thing: Don’t show your impatience by creeping up so close to the person in front of you that they can feel your breath. Crowding those around you will not get you to the front any faster, so give them some space. Finally, cutting in line or trying to ignore the fact that there IS a line –- stop it! Everyone’s time is valuable.
  • The ME Show  It’s great to hear all the crazy, wacky, wonderful things happening in the lives of others. Jobs, engagements, breakups, boyfriends, puppies, pregnancies, vacations — very good stuff, all of it. But once you’ve listened to a friend, family member, or colleague spout about their own fabulous life for an hour (or two), it’s normal to expect them to ask, “So, what’s going on with you?” Those who blab on about themselves while you listen intently, then don’t ask a thing about you in return are just plain rude.
  • Baby Biz  Changing a poopy baby diaper around others is nasty -- and we're moms. Changing the other kind of baby diaper in public is one thing, but still should only be done when absolutely necessary!
  • Mobile Madness   As much as we love the modern age, there are days when we long to go to a coffee shop, movie theatre, bookstore, or post office and not hear some teen queen dishing to her friend about last night's hot date with Todd or eavesdrop (unwillingly) on a screaming family feud. Mobile phones are essential, but please, people, pleeeeeeease, use a little restraint on the when's, what's, and where's. We're happy that Todd is "totally built" but we're going to have to start walking around town and slapping people with "TMI" tickets (yes, too much information).
  • Smokes  Everyone has a right to smoke in public, but be conscious of whose face your smoke is blowing into. Are there kids nearby? And we just might kick the butt of the next person we see throwing their burning butt on the ground without putting it out. Really, find an ashtray or trashcan where you can extinguish and dispose of it properly -- that thing is garbage, not decoration for our streets and sidewalks.
  • The Pee & Flee  Public bathrooms get used by everyone -- yup, they're public! So, making a mess of the toilet seat, and then prancing out without bothering to wipe it up -- not cool. Leaving a mess for the next visitor is completely unacceptable (and disgustingly unsanitary, of course). Take 10 seconds to rip off a piece of toilet paper, toilet seat cover, or a paper towel, and do your due diligence!
  • Stealing...a parking spot, that is. Yeah, you know who you are. If someone has their blinker on and is patiently waiting for a spot, it's theirs. And if you've already passed a spot up, it's gone. Treat others as you expect to be treated, and the parking goddesses will smile down upon you... eventually.
  • Belly Baring  Men, women -- anyone who's passed puberty, everyone who isn't lounging poolside or oceanside -- resist the urge to bare those bellies. They may be beautiful, Buddha-like, jolly, but sometimes they can be flabby, hairy, and not ripe for public consumption. If you're jogging, fellas, t-shirts or tanks won't hurt your workout, so throw one on. Gals, midriff fashions are never really on our "Do" list, and that goes double if your age doesn't contain the word "teen." There are plenty of ways for all of us to flaunt what we got without sharing our tum-tums with the world.
  • Spitting   This gets especially yucky when it's one of those enormous globs that looks like it could be alive.  Some people (males, in particular) think it's kind of a cool-guy thing to do. We're here to tell ya that no one wants to see you hock a big gooey one out of your car, onto the sidewalk, or anywhere else for that matter. Try a tissue.
  • Honking Problem   People who honk too often, too unnecessarily, or just to express their emotions are on our list of Most Etiquette Challenged. If you're trying to warn someone about a collision or problem, fine, otherwise it's not that serious. Give it a rest!

 
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Average (1939 Ratings): 3.5 out of 5 stars

  • 1. Posted by amcfrlnd on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:06 am PST

    I absolutely adore this!! Bravo!

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  • 2. Posted by Stoobie on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:12 am PST

    This list could be MUCH longer, for example, morons who don't use their freakin turn signal...it's not that hard! And that's just the tip of the iceberg...my favorite is cops who make illegal turns, don't stop at stop signs, don't use their signal...but I'm sure they'd write us civilians a ticket in a heartbeat!

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  • 3. Posted by ladyraptor on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:12 am PST

    The worse is the screamer on the cell phone. The whole world doesn't want to know your conversation and just because the phone is small doesn't eman the person can't hear you.

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  • 4. Posted by luisa_mapacha on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:12 am PST

    I totally disagree about the restaurant bill! No one faults anyone else for counting pennies in this economy. If I ordered water and a salad, that's because I either didn't want or couldn't afford the steak and milkshake...and my friends know it.

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  • 5. Posted by trt7704 on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:13 am PST

    stupid

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  • 6. Posted by brenmar71 on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:13 am PST

    All very good advice...especially the spitting!!! It is so disgusting, literally makes me gag, just stop it!

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  • 7. Posted by Vivienne S on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:13 am PST

    Great stuff. We all every now and then need to be reminded about the basics.

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  • 8. Posted by jessicas_sage on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:13 am PST

    I can't believe that society has gotten so bad that we need an article to explain common sense. This list could go on forever.

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  • 9. Posted by Ed L on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:14 am PST

    " Everyone has a right to smoke in public" Really. Where does it say this? Please get this out of your head. You do NOT have any RIGHT to smoke....anywhere!

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  • 10. Posted by msbsquared on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:14 am PST

    thanks for posting this. esp the baby thing.

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  • 11. Posted by jeffreygvsu on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:14 am PST

    Cheese

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  • 12. Posted by douglasfiu on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:14 am PST

    You are completely wrong on number 2 (Nickel & Dim)!! The ones with the etiquette mistake are those who try to order a ton of food and drinks and then (just) expect the rest of the group to be alright with splitting the bill. They need to be put in their place. Cheapskate? Thats what one would expect from a member of the rich elite class. For the rest of us, that is just plain rude.

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  • 13. Posted by Robyn on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:14 am PST

    All of this is so true and should be read by all....

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  • 14. Posted by linkrocksalot on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:14 am PST

    This is funny. Good stuff, good stuff.

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  • 15. Posted by Rebecca on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:15 am PST

    Although I agree with most of this I have always wondered why people get so worked up if someone is on their phones... what is the difference if I talk to my sister who is in line with me or if she is on my phone?

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  • 16. Posted by Martin S on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:15 am PST

    You left out talking in the movie theatre. It's not your living room, people. I did not spend a hefty portion of my paycheck to hear you blather on like you're sitting a bar somewhere. Do us all a favor and wait for the DVD. I once stood up in the middle of a movie (all 6'4" of me) and waited until I had the attention of the idiots jabbering behind me. "You want to sit down?" a male voice asked. "We're trying to see." "You want to shut up?" I returned. "I'm trying to hear."

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  • 17. Posted by G J on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:15 am PST

    I couldn't agree more, especially to the first one. I am getting married in April and less than 1/4 of our guest list actually RSVP'd we have had to contact everyone else to get their answers. I just don't get it, I was raised to always RSVP and then actually show up if I said I would.

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  • 18. Posted by Jennifer on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:15 am PST

    Actually, everyone doesn't "have the right" to smoke in public. (Unless I'm reading the Constitution wrong.) And in some cities and states (and more and more as others get with the times) smoking in public venues is illegal.

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  • 19. Posted by animallover on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:16 am PST

    Good stuff !!!

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  • 20. Posted by poohn t on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:16 am PST

    You totally forgot to include people that tailgate on your list. Oh and people that seem to have invented their own lexicon. I can not stand it when I am having a conversation with someone and they bust out with "That ain't unrelevant. I known a bit of trudge-duggery in my time. And that's as sure a thing as carn-fillinders."

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  • 21. Posted by will1562 on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:16 am PST

    I'd like to spit on this womens car and then throw my cigarette but onto her windshield in traffic!

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  • 22. Posted by suarezlesly101 on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:16 am PST

    so so so true!! :)

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  • 23. Posted by miriam_theuma on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    love it! good job!

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  • 24. Posted by John B on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    You left out the worst one, talking on a cell phone in restaurants, movies, and anywhere your conversation can be heard by others.

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  • 25. Posted by Claudia on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    The nicke and dime however becomes necessary when you have mooching or should I say free loading friends that keep dividing the bill this way when they clearly are the one creating a big bill and sliding on the finances of others.

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  • 26. Posted by GABRIELLA L on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    im sorry, but you guys sound a little too anal. Maybe even anti-social? if all these things bother YOU, why dont you guys stay at home?

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  • 27. Posted by Eleanor M on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    um...licking fingers in public and blowing your nose at the table are right up there!

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  • 28. Posted by Beautiful Bird on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    Nickel & Dimin’ is soooo true!!! my biggest pet peeve!

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  • 29. Posted by jwolfy2006 on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    I thought of one. The college I go to there is a girl that blows her nose with her BARE hands into the sink and I have seen some unpleasent things while I brush my teeth.

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  • 30. Posted by regjoeschmo on Wed, Mar 04, 2009, 11:17 am PST

    amazing what a little common sense can do......

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