Responding to Rudeness

Sometimes when someone is rude to you, it can happen so quickly, you don't even know how to respond.  Other times you may choose to walk away in order to avoid a confrontation.  Whatever you do, there are some helpful things to think about as you contemplate your response.

Don't take it personally.  Sometimes the rude behavior is due to that person being a bad mood or having a rough day.  Give them the benefit of the doubt and consider what they could be going through to trigger that behavior.

Size up your troubles.  Is it best to just let it go?  Sometimes addressing a conflict can be a waste of your time and energy.

Take responsibility for your own actions.  Examine whether or not you did something to provoke such behavior.

Mental exercise.  Count to ten or focus on yourself or something else before you erupt in anger.

Battling Rudeness

No matter how gracious your own behavior, you are bound to encounter other people who behave rudely.  And sometimes no matter our best intentions, we can unknowingly commit rude behavior as well.  So this week we are taking a look a rudeness and how to handle it with grace.

For starters, lets look a few different ways rudeness presents itself:

Aggressive Rudeness:  Intentional, no holding back, rudeness. This is someone yelling at you after you bump into them or someone slowly down as they drive because they feel you cut them off or are tailgating.

Casual Rudeness: These are the behaviors that are often unconscious or unintentional but annoying none the less.  Chatting loudly on your cell phone or rushing to a new line being opened after being a very end of a long one.  

Rudeness in Disguise: This is the rudeness I always categorize as a "dig" or a backhanded compliment.  Here's an example: " I love that sweater, it makes you look so much thinner than you usually do."

Bottom of the Barrel of Behavior: These are things one should NEVER do.  Blowing your nose at the table, burping loudly, cursing in public.

Shaking Hands : A little Classic Etiquette

Classic etiquette never gets old for me...

Here is a little excerpt from Emily Post

original chapter on greetings.

SHAKING HANDS

Gentlemen always shake hands when they are
introduced to each other. Ladies rarely do so with gentlemen who are introduced
to them; but they usually shake hands with other ladies, if they are standing
near together. All people who know each other, unless merely passing by, shake
hands when they meet.
A gentleman on the street never shakes
hands with a lady without first removing his right glove. But at the opera, or
at a ball, or if he is usher at a wedding, he keeps his glove on.

Oh how I love a good white glove reference!