Etiquette or Good manners??

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LeonF

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Thought I might start a new thread as this is slightly off topic from the previous one but....when we say etiquette these days surely we mean good manners ?? I always think etiquette reeks of details of behaviour that are about class distinction, rather than good manners which are universal. You know the nonsense about whether one should use fish knives, or put the milk in first etc etc.... Of course there is sometimes a cross over....is flying a courtesy flag abroad one or the other?? Or lowering one's ensign at sunset ?? I profess to doing the former but not the latter.
I always think etiquette reeks of Jane Austen and class consciousness.
 
I've got no problem with the word "etiquette" in the boating context because it is about standard ways to behave so you don't annoy or surprise people.

For instance it might be good manners to say hello and apologise to people eating in their cockpit as you pass through it in a rafting situation - however etiquette says that you should always go over the bows, even if the cockpit is empty and people are sleeping in the forecabin.
 
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Or lowering one's ensign at sunset ??

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Now there is something that could be the cause of bad manners! Often in the summer I would be in a pub or restaurant eating at sundown, so it would not be good manners to leave the table to lower the ensign!

But on a serious note, good manners is the most valuable thing that comes free.
 
Blimey - what happened to not being barged out of the way, whichever way you're going through a door. Especially young teen lads!

Fair winds me up. And jumping queues. Well, actually the list is endless isn't it?

For a moment there, The list started to look massive.

For me the problem is that nobody seems to be able to give anyone else any 'respect'or acceptance. You don't have to like them, just accept their right to a life as well.

So if 'etiquette' is a set of rules that helps us all do that, perhaps it is a good thing. Including when out on the boat.
 
I was over in the England a few times in the last 6 months after a gap of a good few years (apart from LGW and LHR Airports - which I guess do not really count /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) - found that being freindly to people seemed to go down quite well overall, although I did get some puzzled looks along the lines of "what does he want?".

For me it was also quite novel to be able to go into a shop and speak some English.

Having said that I was also quite surprised at how run down and impoverished the parts of England I visited looked (Portsmouth / Southampton up to Heathrow area - is that Hampshire?? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) - but maybe my memory is playing tricks on me and it is much the same as it ever was.
 
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Or lowering one's ensign at sunset ??

[/ QUOTE ]

Now there is something that could be the cause of bad manners! Often in the summer I would be in a pub or restaurant eating at sundown, so it would not be good manners to leave the table to lower the ensign!

But on a serious note, good manners is the most valuable thing that comes free.

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I've always understood it to be..... the ensign is only flown during daylight hours whilst you are on board, therefore if you have gone to the pub you would have lowered the ensign before leaving the boat, would you not?
 
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I've always understood it to be..... the ensign is only flown during daylight hours whilst you are on board, therefore if you have gone to the pub you would have lowered the ensign before leaving the boat, would you not?

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I think etiquette suggests that it's ok if you are on the dock or marina. A pub down the road would be a bit far.

I can see my boat from the bar so would leave the ensign up (unless it's getting late).

Dave.
 
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What happened to letting people out of a door before going in oneself?

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Except for entering the Gents, where convention has it that incoming is given priority on the basis of need /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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What happened to letting people out of a door before going in oneself?

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When I hold a door open for somebody and they fail to acknowledge the fact, even with a nod of the head, I then say, very loudly, "Pardon"

The usual reply is something like "I didn't say anything" to which I reply "Oh, I thought you said thank you".

I wouldn't try it with John Prescott though!
 
he has lackies to hold doors open for him - hes important you know ....... dpm is very important, so hes a very important expensive joke of a failed sad nasty little fat man /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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