So I make the distinction between manners, which exist to make interaction with other human beings more bearable, and etiquette, which exists either as a way to make yourself look good in front of other people or simply because the rule was picked up for some reason and stuck. Manners are important, etiquette is nonsense.
I'm of the opinion that sending thank you notes to people who have given you a gift is nonsense etiquette because while it seems like a way to make the giver feel validated I don't believe anyone would have ever thought to do so unless they were trying to look like the most polite person in the room. I mean it's one of those things that makes gift giving into a tedious social reciprocity circle jerk that makes people not want to give people gifts.
Basically what I'm saying is that am I an ******* for rolling my eyes because my family thinks you should do this and won't shut the **** up about it? Or am I the ******* (specifically for this reason)?
__________________
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.
|
|