Foundation of Social Etiquette

Discuss about the Social Etiquette for Medical Marketing & Media.

It is important for every person to behave in a way that is responsible in a way that is acceptable in the society. Everyone should avoid people around them not to feel embarrassed due to their bad behavior. Some embarrassing behaviors that should be avoided includes illogical or irrational behaviors in the public. Social etiquette is therefore basically what makes human beings to be different from the rest of the animals. According to Wang (2015), human beings are social animals and it is very crucial for them to behave appropriately by behaving in a socially responsible manner. If one observes people out there in their daily activities, they are likely possible to find individuals who do not have etiquette. Having etiquette can also be referred to as having good manners which is essential for any civilization (Bashe, 2008). As earlier stated, the foundation of social etiquette is all about having behavior that is acceptable to the community, that is, professional, social and polite (Klie, 2016). This includes both in family and professional situations (Wang, 2015). Good manners can mean the difference between failure and success in most of the life aspects.

Social etiquette has its foundation in family set up. This is the place where everyone ought to have social etiquette. This is the best way to start off with social etiquette. For instance, when one gets married, they start to think of how they are going to get along with the new in-laws. It is also important that in-laws also show good manners to the new family members. Still in the family, using words such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are part of having social etiquette (Shuling, Cindy Yunhsin and Meng-chen, 2016). This is better off than when people use language of issuing orders and refutation. Children in the family should also be taught how to have social etiquette so that they take it out to the world. According to Abrutyn and Carter (2014), family etiquette is the foundation of social etiquette for children are taught how to behave to the rest of the world.

Some of the simple things are basically taught in the family unit. They include behaviors like how to respect the belongings of others at home, respecting each other’s personal space, not interrupting people when they are talking, chewing with ones’ mouth when its closed, avoiding to speak to people on phone when at dinner and so on. Children learn this at home and this determines how they would behave when they are in the public, with strangers and friends, at someone’s place or even in hotels (Croom and Davis, 2006). If one treats the others with respect, then the person is likely to remain on their list of the persons they trust. They are the ones who would be invited to parties and they would be cared for. Social etiquette saves one from embarrassments by behaving in a way that is offensive or unbecoming. This is no exclusion of social media which can magnify people’s behavior.

Unwritten Rules of Social Etiquette

There are basic unwritten rules of social etiquette. Some of them include keeping time when going for meetings, get-togethers or even dates. Arriving late is a sense of disrespect for the other person’s time (Ankeny, 2011). One should never interrupt another while they are talking. Most importantly one should keep eye contact when they are conversing. It is also important for one to give or receive compliments graciously (Croom and Davis, 2006).  Etiquette also includes holding doors for anyone who seem to be struggling such as the disabled, the aged, parents and children. Also, refusal to gossip with and about friends is equally important in social etiquette.

Social etiquette also extends to letting the other person know when one is contagiously sick and may involve postponing and rescheduling plans. Sharing and tipping friends when one is invited to a place is also a sense of social etiquette. Failure to do so may mean that one may not be invited somewhere again. In the social media one should never post things that are not appropriate for the world to see (Croom and Davis, 2006). People should respond to posts and give praise when needed for there are other people who require attention such kind of attention (The etiquette of offering help, 1996). When one makes mistakes on social media, they should own them and offer sincere apologies appropriately. Most importantly everyone should follow the rules of the kind of social media they are using. All this means that an individuals has the acceptable social etiquette.

Both business side and one’s personal life has guidelines and rules for how to behave and it leaves most people unaware of how they are supposed to behave in new environments. One of the most important things to do is making sure they are prepared before making a social mistake. There are several reasons why social etiquette is important (Golman, 2015). One of the reasons is that it makes an individual to be well cultured in the society and leaves a mark behind wherever they go. Social etiquette teaches one the way to walk, talk and above all it helps one to understand the best way to behave in the society (Adhere to Social Etiquette, 2004). It is social etiquette that determines the first impression one can make after meeting someone. The way a person communicates with their parents, superiors, friends, fellow workers can tell a lot about their personal personality and determines the first impression they create when they meet new persons (Wood and Warin, 2014).

Importance of Social Etiquette

Having social etiquette is important because it enables one to be respected and appreciated in the society (Arnold, 2008). This is because no one would want to talk to a person who does not know how to behave or speak in the society. Having social etiquette inculcates a sense of loyalty and trust in people. This is because the person becomes more mature and responsible (Saurisse, 2013). Relationships are also greatly based on social etiquette. There are several other reasons why social etiquette is important in that it enables one to be comfortable with themselves because of knowing how to behave and react to a particular situation. Social etiquette plays a part in making clear conversation due to breaking down of all barriers that may occur rather than raising them (Saurisse, 2013). Other people’s feelings are protected by practicing proper social etiquette. This is because persons who have proper social etiquette do not point the errors and mistakes with others or draw attention to the errors and mistakes. In the work settings, an employee who has proper social etiquette is seen as more professional, more capable and more intelligent than those that have improper code of conduct.

People’s culture and the society at large are changing fast and this has led to difficulties in keeping the rules of social etiquette. Social etiquette is meant to be guideline rules to be followed but not a set of strict rules (Walmsley, 2009). The reason why most people today do not have social etiquette is because they were never taught at home when they were at a young age. Parents have failed to play their role in teaching teenagers and children about etiquette (Golman, 2015; Pr, 2013).  It is difficult for children who were never been taught social etiquette to practice it when they are adults. However, it is good for people with problems of having social etiquette to start practicing it privately. It can be difficult to switch to our good behavior when one feels like (Loguercio, 2012). Our best behavior should be shown to people we love most. There are people who argue that they want to learn etiquette.  However, such people question why some things are appropriate in one country and not acceptable in another not understanding that different cultures determine the etiquettes in those regions.

There has been some truth that some gentlemen learnt their proper social etiquette from their mothers. Being aware of importance of etiquette is becoming more necessary as the rules in social etiquette guide a person through a situation in today’s changing and shrinking world. In the recent years, people will wonder if there is the possibility of advancing the Marxist theory of etiquette or a Marxist strategy of subversion (Lee, 2005). It is clear that people in the upper classes, according to Marxist by the way their system of etiquette is codified. Max says that there is space for vulgarity that is licensed even in aristocratic estates (Golman, 2015).  The theory holds that etiquette entails private and public distinction which is the subject of Marxist. It is important to note that there is a complex relationship between etiquette and morals. For example, one can refer to manners being morals but again when someone eats with their mouth open it cannot be referred to as immoral but rather lack of etiquette.

Challenges in Practicing Social Etiquette

People in the middle class have established their own manners and etiquette in attempt to follow their aristocratic civility to homely words such dirtiness and swearing. They justify themselves with religious ideology. To them, vulgarity is attributed to people in the working class (Bzdega, 2006). It is not only the working class that always existed as a mode of resistance and survival to impositions. Working class manners have been defined in reaction in contradiction to other systems of etiquette (Croom and Davis, 2006). To have social etiquette, the little things matter. An etiquette guide cannot take care of every situation that is possible as one move through life. Social etiquette comprises of many different life situations, each of which depends on the cultural values of people living in that nation. However, acceptable social etiquette is standard in every cultural region. Every small act can improve the life of an individual and pass it to some else. So every individual ought to show some kindness to others.

In conclusion, everyone should avoid making people around them from feeling embarrassed due to their bad behavior. This can be through behaving illogically or irrationally in the public. Social etiquette is therefore basically what makes human beings to be different from the rest of the animals. Human beings are social animals and it is very crucial for them to behave appropriately by behaving in a socially responsible manner (Croom and Davis, 2006). Having social etiquette is important that it enables one to be respected and appreciated in the society. This is because no one would want to talk to a person who does not know how to behave or speak in the society. The reason why most people today do not have social etiquette is because they were never taught at home. Parents have failed to play their role in teaching teenagers and children about etiquette.

References

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