More often than not, courteous behaviours are learnt through observation. Due to this, the topic, of courtesy, is not frequently discussed.
Today, however, on the Orange Urban Mix show, Adwoa Afranewaa Frimpong engaged listeners in exploring courteousness. She asked listeners to share behaviours they considered discourteous.
Consider it: What behaviour from a stranger would make you see them as ill-mannered? While you ponder this, let’s look at three behaviours some listeners found highly improper.
- Blowing Nose In Public
A listener said that blowing one’s nose in public is a clear sign of being ill-mannered. In many cultures, certain bodily functions are considered private and should be handled discreetly.
Aside from cultural significance, publicly blowing your nose can be considered a lack of awareness and respect for the comfort and well-being of others. Most times, it is also visually and audibly unpleasant for others.
In Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, an individual can be charged KSh10,000 or jailed for up to 6 months if caught blowing their nose without a handkerchief in public.
While blowing one’s nose is natural and sometimes unavoidable if you should do it, be mindful of how and where you do so.
- Picking Nose in Public
Another enthused listener waded into the conversation, pointing out that picking one’s nose in public and discarding it anywhere is a sign of poor upbringing.
They elaborated that although picking one’s nose in itself is not the problem, some people are not discreet when they do it.
They pick, and play with it for a while, and may not even wash or sanitize their hands afterwards. This he said, is a clear sign of being ill-mannered.
- Unkind In Words
Another listener also mentioned that failing to use kind words such as “please,” “sorry,” and “thank you” are all signs of improper upbringing.
While these courteous words may seem like they should be part of daily interactions, some people find it hard to use them.
For most children, these words are often among the first manners to be taught; therefore, an individual’s reluctance to use them may mean they had a fairly poor upbringing.
In contrast, another listener said it all boils down to perspective. They argued that judging an individual’s character is based on upbringing, so while one person’s judgment of another may seem wrong, it could be perfectly reasonable to someone else.
While perspectives indeed play a huge role in how we judge people’s character, some behaviours are generally seen as courteous. It is important to consider exhibiting such behaviours when in public.
We hope you can take a cue from these outlined behaviours and improve your social etiquette. Remember, people are always watching!
Tune in to the Orange Urban Mix with Adwoa Afranewaa Frimpong every weekday from 10 am to 12 pm to share your views.
