More Retro Etiquette for Annoying Habits

Airing your prejudices is an annoying personal habit!

Airing Your Prejudices

The person who knows everything, thinks she's right about everything, and is out convince everyone with whom she comes into contact, never will be liked in society. People have their own opinions, and the person who sails into a conversation with a remark about a "lousy president" or a "bunch of narrow minded religionists," is sure to be stepping on somebody's toes. The person who does such talking is considered ignorant by persons who have breadth of thought and tolerance.

Toothpicks

Never appear in public with a toothpick dangling in the corner of your mouth. Never pick teeth in the presence of another person. Use dental floss in privacy.

Criticizing Others

Never criticize the personal weaknesses of others verbally... (Unless your criticism is so witty, it is undoubtedly mistaken for a compliment.) 

Never criticize the personal weaknesses of others verbally. It is helpful to notice unpleasant things about other persons and to turn the findings into benefit by correcting your own practices. Study your practices! Make a list of the fault you discovered about yourself as well as your friends. Compare the list. No doubt you will find that the notations about yourself reveal many unpleasant habits that you will willingly correct immediately.

Being Personal

“How much did you pay for it?” “Do you like your husband’s mother?” Such personal questions are bad manners.  Never ask anyone a personal question – this applies to members of the family, too – unless you have sound justification. Personal remarks are as bad as personal questions.  Some persons seem to think it is their duty to tell you what they think of you, or your clothes; they do not seem to approve of anything about you.

“That's a new dress, is it Betty? It's in style, but I don't like pink so well as blue on you. That dress you wore so much last winter was beautiful.”

Such a remark is rude and inexcusable. If something altogether pleasant cannot be said in a personal remark, don't make it.

The Expectorator  

Expectorating off the Titanic ~ Rose- “Teach me to ride like a man.”  Jack- “And chew tobacco like a man.”  Rose- “And spit like a man!” Jack- “What, they didn't teach you that in finishing school?”

Never expectorate on the sidewalk, or from the window of a train or automobile, and never expectorate in the presence of anyone. If you have a cold, carry with you a supply of tissues. Use them and destroy them immediately.

The Belcher 

Belching  can usually be controlled. If there are occasions when you cannot control it, say, “I'm sorry.”  These words will not prevent your embarrassment, however. There is nothing you can do that will cover up the sound.

The Handkerchief  Waver

“No. I am so sorry. I didn't wave that hanky at you. This dim-witted younger sister of mine was the one waving it around.”

Keep your handkerchief out of sight as much as possible; use it only when necessary. The purpose of a handkerchief isn't anything pleasant, and it is revolting to others to see you shaking a handkerchief around if it isn't extremely fresh. Many a nervous habit starts with twisting and folding a handkerchief, so it is best to keep your handkerchief in a pocket, in your purse, or in the desk drawer at the office, unless it is actually needed. Retire from the sight and sounds of other persons when it is necessary to blow your nose violently. – “The Searchlight Homemaking Guide,” 1937

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette for Habits Which Annoy

Gum Chewing ~ Never leave gum where others can see it ...

How to Improve 

Unless you are constantly guarding against them, you are likely to develop personal habits that will be annoying to other persons. A little thought and conscientious effort concerning the things you do and say will improve your manners and add to your popularity.

Among the following suggestions you may discover habits of your own of which you previously have been unaware.

Gum Chewing 

Gum chewing should be done privately and quietly, and not in an office or in any public place. When you chew gum, never make a snapping, smacking sound with it, or pull it out of your mouth in long strings. When you are through with your gum, deposit it in a piece of paper and drop it into the waste basket. Never leave it where others can see it, or where it is likely to become fastened to shoes or clothing. This should be taught to children when they chew their first piece of gum.

Accepting Favors 

Some persons accept countless favors from their friends and return few of them. When refreshments or theater tickets are to be purchased, such persons appear so busily engaged in conversation that they are several yards from the cashier's desk or the ticket window when another member the party approaches it. These individuals offer effusive thanks after the other person has spent her money, and declare that "next time will be our turn" but it isn't. Don't be a sponge; if you can't pay your share of expenses, don't go.

Other favors of smaller proportion often are accepted without return – such things as invitations to a friends home, and countless accommodations with her automobile. Even though you cannot return favors extended to you in exactly the same way, you can do other things occasionally to show your appreciation.

Refreshing Makeup 

Combing hair, cleaning fingernails, applying cheek rouge, patting  powder on the face, smoothing eyebrows – never should be done in public.

If you wear lipstick, and your lips look pale after eating, apply a touch of lipstick before leaving a public dining table if there is no dressing room where you can stop for a minute. Of course, if you have been in a private home, you may excuse yourself and go to the mirror. Do not apply so much make up that you will be forced to remove part of it on a handkerchief or napkin. Don't twist your lips in grotesque shapes. These things call attention to what you are doing in the most unpleasant way. Combing hair, cleaning fingernails, applying cheek rouge, patting  powder on the face, smoothing eyebrows -- never should be done in public. Never give hair more than a pat in public; do not send dandruff, dust, and loose hair flying into people's faces and into food. Never clean fingernails in public. Use a fingernail brush when you wash your hands and your nails will be clean.

Body Odors 

Body odors are an unforgivable social offense. Deodorants are easy to apply, and immediately effective

The Toucher

Do you  have the habit of touching everything you see?

Do you  have the habit of touching everything you see? Do you walk into stores handling everything on the counter? If you're shown a lovely piece of glass or china in a friend's home, must you handle it until it is covered with finger marks? Never touch anything in the store unless you're considering buying it, in which case you will want to look at it carefully. Never touch anything in a home unless you're invited to do so by word or action.

The Sniffler

Scarlett sniffles..."Never, at any crisis of your life, have I known you to have a handkerchief."

The nervous habit of sniffling or coughing annoys everyone. If you have these habits, consult a doctor if you think you cannot overcome them.

The Picker

Almost all of us have known the "picker" - the person who scratched her scalp...

Almost all of us have known the picker -- the person who picked at her teeth and lips, who scratched her scalp, picked at blemishes, picked her cuticle, or nose. We want to put these people out of our minds as quickly as possible. Picking is a nervous habit practiced while waiting in the easy chair or engaging in conversation. It is a disgusting habit, and every person should make an effort to avoid it. – Source ~ “Searchlight Homemaking Guide,” 1937

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia