Day one in a series on manners

I found this quote on twitter and it hit me as a fantastically concise and perceptive statement about the truth of rudeness.  

When I think about examples of rudeness it seems there are two main reasons for it. One, the person really doesn’t know they are being rude.  We are not talking about that.  

Two, the person does know and feels empowered by it. They like the expansion of their field of control.  They stretch out their fork to get food off another person’s plate.  They stretch out their voice into a phone and a waiting room or theatre. They stretch out their disrespect by never acknowledging people who serve and care for them.  

The list can go on.  But what they all have in common is the rude person attempting to be superior. subjugating others to their physical, emotional or psychological space.  People who are confident and strong don’t have that need, they know who they are and can treat others with respect and good manners.  The weak person is the one constantly trying to get others to see the strength they know they are lacking, usually in a passive aggressive way.

You can’t avoid rudeness in life. But you can contribute to it’s diminishing by not enabling it. Don’t be a  weanie when it rears it’s ugly head. Say something. That is unless of course you live in Oklahoma where they just passed a law allowing people to wear guns in a holster on their hip like back in the wild west.  In that case, be careful!  

Seriously though and more importantly, if you are a parent raise your kids to not be rude by teaching and giving them experiences that bring out their true strength and confidence. 


Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman


“Rudeness is a weak person’s imitation of strength.” –  Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983, American writer and social philosopher.  


Posted on twitter by Lisa Merlo-Booth of ‘Straight Talk on Relationships’ blog