Etiquette Pet Peeves

What are some of your etiquette pet peeves?

I have several and thought I would write about these to see if anyone else has the same ones or different ones.  We all have things that bug us.  One thing that bugs me is people not responding to e-mails.  Whether it is social or business related, I believe one should respond if it isn’t spam.  I know in the business world we all get loads of e-mails.  Sometimes it takes awhile to respond.  Unless the e-mail is marked urgent, it may be 24 – 48 hours before you receive a response.  After that time, I think your lack of a response is bordering on the rude side.  What really puzzles me is when you get no response.  If you are doing business with someone and have supplied them information requested and have sent it, the polite thing to do is RESPOND.  Don’t leave the person waiting in the wings wondering what’s happening.  I know there are times when you send an e-mail, and it doesn’t arrive for various reasons.  Send a follow-up to make sure your e-mail was received if you haven’t gotten a response.

Another pet peeve is the discourteous use of the cell phone.  We behave as if life cannot continue if we aren’t constantly in touch by cell phone.  I do not like to be in a restaurant trying to eat only to have the person in the booth  behind me on their cell phone the entire meal.  First of all, I can’t hear what my companion is saying, and I really have no interest in the other person’s cell conversation.  If you have to take a call in a restaurant, please excuse yourself from the table and step outside.  Try to have the ringer on low or on vibrate so the ringing doesn’t disturb others.

One other pet peeve I have is chewing gum when you are talking with someone.  Have you ever watched someone being interviewed on TV and noticed that they are chomping on gum?  Please don’t do this.  It is unattractive, and people can’t understand what you are saying.

One other pet peeve of mine is people not putting their napkin in their lap.  I can’t tell you the number of times I have witnessed people eating and just leaving their napkin on the table.  When they need it to wipe their mouth, they pick it up and then just return it to the table.  This is one of the first things I teach in my etiquette classes.  The napkin goes in your lap for a reason.  If you are at a dinner that is hosted by someone, you take your cue from your hostess when to place your napkin in your lap.  There are also four uses of the napkin.  Learn what these are and use them

These are just a few pet peeves that I have.  I am interested in what yours are.  Please feel free to respond with any comments on what I’ve shared and any thoughts you might have.  Hope to hear from you.

Questions or comments are always appreciated.

Ginny Brown
The Etiquette School of Northeast Georgia
Hoschton, Georgia (Hamilton Mill area, Dacula, GA)
Email Ginny Brown
678-889-4814 office
770-296-4159 cell

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