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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!jayt
From: jayt@ssc-vax.UUCP (Jay T McCanta)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: courtsey (ooh that dirty word)
Message-ID: <635@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Apr-85 16:52:10 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.635
Posted: Wed Apr 17 16:52:10 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Apr-85 08:16:56 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 29


   I am amazed at the lack of courtesy displayed not only on the net, but in
the stories as well (where some folks brag about how rude they can be).  Have
we turned into a society of reactionaries?  Is everything that is unpleasent a
reason for rebuttal and scorn?  I think not.  Being courteous is not a sign of
weakness; indeed, it is a sign of strength showing that others' rudeness will
not compromise your good manners.  

   There are too many people who take offense when none is given (I know how
threatening a teen-ager asking, "Is that all?" can be (-: ).  Why?  Is it
because our work with machines (which are prgrammed to be rude) has made us
callous toward real flesh and blood?  I have noticed that, amoung my engineer
friends, there is a definite lower level of manners than amoung friends of
different backgrounds.  And yet, if this were the case, why do I find the
rudest people (subjective, I know) in the education field? 

   Of late, I have been trying to improve my manners.  For those who feel that
intimidation is the only recourse, let me tell you that perfect manners can be
just as frustrating to rudeness, and may, in fact, accomplish a lot more.  If
we let rudeness begat rudeness, where will it stop?
-- 
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"What's the fellow's line?"  "Never worries about his line."
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Jay T. McCanta
Boeing Aerospace
Kent, Wa.  

    {uw-beaver|adiron|boeing|cesonix|argus|purdue}!ssc-vax!jayt