What would make you think the people who are waiting on you have any less an idea of social graces? They probably participate in many more social interactions per day than you do.
Having said that I do think this is business advice is a bit of a meme, it fits nicely with our value systems and has such a fairytale type character to it. I wouldn't doubt that there are many people out there who are polite to all and sundry who would screw you the second they get a chance.
What would make you think the people who are waiting on you have any less an idea of social graces? They probably participate in many more social interactions per day than you do.
Oh, I'm not trying to teach them social graces. I'm trying to teach them to be rich, brilliant and awesome like me.
(Again, I must make an obligatory apology for the fact that this thread is making me sound like a dick, by pulling out stuff that I usually only think subconsciously and putting it into words.)
I've read enough of your comments to know you aren't a dick, it just seemed like an odd motivation. I know there as a part of my brain that's getting a kick out of being polite to serving staff because it's thinking how awesomely benevolent I am. It's just that there is also a cynical part of brain laughing at me for doing it, thinking the serving staff must have seen every variation of person a million times and not really give a shit.
Well it's not really about serving staff, it's more a general heuristic which I think improves all aspects of my life. Live your life as if there's a bunch of impressionable young kids watching and learning from your every move.
Are you slouching? Stop that! You'll set a bad example for the rest of the world!
Of course this kind of thing probably comes naturally to those who are parents and actually do have impressionable kids watching 'em.
I've read enough of your comments to know you aren't a dick
Well that's gratifying, because I'm pretty sure I'm much more of a dick on the internet than I am in real life.
Of course this kind of thing probably comes naturally to those who are parents and actually do have impressionable kids watching 'em.
No, it doesn't. You just become far more cognizant of the things you should be doing differently to set that good example...and aren't. :/
I'm pretty sure I'm much more of a dick on the internet than I am in real life.
I thing that's pretty much a truism for all. People require body language to really be understood and, without it, tend to be read negatively. Perhaps something to do with trusting other villagers and fearing strangers?
My way of thinking towards serving staff is mostly the same as to everyone else: "Here's a person, I will be polite to them".
On a semi-unrelated note, I feel really really badly when people pour my water/drink, probably because it's servile and I am really averse to it (I don't like thinking of people as inferior). Perhaps surprisingly, I don't mind waiters bringing me what I ordered, I guess it's because that's expected and accepted, thus it's not something that shows (or forces) inferiority.
While we're on the subject of fairytale type characters, "people out there who are polite to all and sundry who would screw you the second they get a chance" is actually a literary archetype.
Having said that I do think this is business advice is a bit of a meme, it fits nicely with our value systems and has such a fairytale type character to it. I wouldn't doubt that there are many people out there who are polite to all and sundry who would screw you the second they get a chance.