Etiquette is a word that we are hearing bantered about a lot. We read about business etiquette, dining etiquette, social etiquette, email etiquette and even social-networking etiquette. Under these circumstances, we have to ask what all this etiquette is about and why do people feel that it is so important?
Etiquette is quite simply the rules which help us to all get on together. Without etiquette, there would be fireworks! Do you like it when someone pushes in front of you in a queue? Without etiquette, people would just go wherever they liked. After all, there is no law that says that you have to wait patiently in a queue. No police are going to come and drag the offender away.
Etiquette is always there, silently policing our behavior and the behavior of others. It gives us a reasonably level playing field, so that we have a good idea of what is expected of us, and equally what we have a right to expect of others.
So, why is this etiquette so important? After all, there is no one that says I have to behave is such and such a manner, so why should I bother?
Mankind is a social animal. We all don't live solitary lives in forests. As we parade ourselves in front of fellow human beings, we want to be able to show that we are not a wild animal. Like-minded people group together, so if we want to be part of a particular set, then we want to show that we will be a fitting compliment and not cause unrest amongst others.
There are etiquette rules which hold true for all of mankind. We can take down anyone with a disapproving glare who tries to jump a queue. Yet many etiquette rules have become unique to individual social classes or sets. For example, when I see a woman handle her wine glass incorrectly, I can assume (sometimes wrongly) that she would be more comfortable with a beer can and the television set as a form of night-time entertainment. Equally, I can watch a graceful woman offering her seat to an elderly-lady on a bus and I know that she has been taught social grace beyond her current financial state.
We now know what etiquette is, and why it is important. The truly important question that should be answered is "Why is it important FOR ME?"
Life is a dynamic journey for most of us. It is true that some women would be happy to stay exactly where they are for eternity, but, for most of us, we want to progress and develop ourselves. Education or success in your career are ways in which we advance our status in life. We don't want to stand out like a big red STOP sign, to the new set to which we now are wanting to elevate ourselves.
Etiquette comes to our rescue in a set of rules which can be learned. We blend seamlessly into our new social environment and are thankful that such society secrets aren't so secret!
