Etiquette In Society

Today's Topic: Etiquette in Society

We can't think about society today without thinking about the world wide web. The internet has done a number of positive things for us and most of us rely on it daily. I, for one, am guilty as charged.

Lets think back to Christmas. We all did our gift buying, whether it be for our family, friends, coworkers or maybe even a little something for ourself. I don't think it would be a stretch to say that most of us can connect the Internet to most every purchase we made this year. Many of you could probably answer the following questions with very similar answer:

"Where did you find that coat?" - Gap Online, Cyber Monday

"I can't believe all those toys for the girls!" - Amazon.com - Free 2 Day Shipping

"I loved that wreath on your door!" - Pinterest

If we didn't buy it online, we found the idea online. But what does this have to do with etiquette in society? In my opinion, everything.

I think we are so used to communicating online that maybe it is interfearing with our face to face communication.

Lets compare to Christmas again. If you did venture into a store, how was the service? Or how about if you actually had to talk to a customer service representative on the phone? Or if any of you work in retail, how were customers when they checked out at your register?

I am going to guess that more than half the employees you came in contact with barely said more than hello. And I would bet that trying to talk to a customer service representative on the phone was near impossible. AND, if you were behind the counter this Holiday season, I can only imagine that 99.9% of the people who came into your line were either talking, texting, or searching the web on their phone while making their purchase.

So here are my questions: Has the Internet hurt etiquette in our society? Do you feel like you still get good customer service, and if so, where? Do you yourself have good etiquette in public?

Lindsey's Response:

I am going to share a story from just a few days ago. My sister and I were in a store at the mall and I was making a purchase at the counter. I can't remember which store it was exactly but it was either "Claires" or "Icing", or "Lot's of Little Crap Stuffed Into A Tiny Space" store. Like most of those type of stores, the employees were all teenage/college age females. I walked to the counter and the cashier said, "Will that be all for you?" After that brief interaction, we did not speak again. She was turned sideways, never once actually facing me head on, and she was talking to the two other female employees throughout my entire purchase. Apparently someone's boyfriend gave her a gift that wasn't quite up to her standards and although it was "sweet of him," it was not what she was looking for. Clearly I know way more about this little problem than I need to.

I was extremely irritated. She did not say anything besides "Will that be all for you," and not only did she never make eye contact with me, she had an entire personal conversation as if I wasn't even standing there. I got no thank you or even a friendly nod goodbye.

This is the attitude of a lot of young workers today. Not all, but many. No one has to have a real conversation throughout their day because they have their phones and the computer to hide behind. Why WOULD this girl talk to me? I mean, hello, I am not even her Facebook friend. Which I am sure is how a lot of people her age determine who is and isn't worth talking to.

I do admit that I love email. In fact, I would much rather talk to someone through email than over the phone, although I have no problem with having a conversation on the phone. I think I like email because I have time to think about my answers, where as on the phone I am put on the spot and may forget what I want to say or say something stupid before I can take it back.

I also have probaby been guilty of being the customer at the counter on my phone in the past, but I think it is extremely rude and I DO NOT do it anymore. I can't imagine how annoying that would have to be as the cashier to try and check you out while you are flapping your gums to someone on the phone and paying no attention to what is going on.

I of course think social communication online is fantastic or I wouldn't have created this blog, but at the same time I think it is important that we still remember our manners when we talk to someone in public.

So what do you think?

Please leave your comments here on blog or on the Letters To Lindsey FB page! I am interested in what you think!

If you have any ideas or questions you would like everyone to weigh in on please email LettersToLindseyBlog@gmail.com and let me know!

Thanks For Reading,
Lindsey