It is Wed-iquette Wednesday! Welcome back! We asked Jay this week he would like to see make a come back with regards to traditions and etiquette and he couldn’t pick just one! Wonder what they are? Here are five ways we can become a more civilized society. Have your own question for Canada’s Etiquette Guy? Submit a question below and we will have it answered on a future blog post. What do YOU want to see make a return? What bothers you? What do YOU want to see disappear?

For a traditionalist like me, I kind of miss some of the traditions of the past related to chivalrous and civil behaviour. I for one would like to see a comeback of some of these. I think the days of women’s liberation have been put to rest and women are viewed as equal to men by anyone with half a brain. Unfortunately, ladies, we men were badly bruised while the battle for equality was raging and we are a bit gun shy. Nonetheless, we need to pull up our socks and stage a return to days when kindness was the order of the day. Here are a few types of behaviour we can begin with.

1. Men, younger adults and children should rise from their chairs when an older person, especially a woman enters the room. This takes no effort really, but is a kindness showing deference to one’s elders, not because they are weaker in any way, but because we appreciate them for making our own lives more complete.
2. Arrive on time. This applies to everyone and is not only important in business but it is equally important in one’s social life. This also requires very little effort. Being late is a sign of weakness actually. Like all bullying techniques, it shows disrespect for others, in this case, the host especially.
3. If a man offers to help a woman into her seat, she should be grateful, not snarly. This is an act of kindness, nothing more, nothing less.
4. Write a thank you note or phone your host to show your appreciation for a gift or dinner party invitation. This makes common sense, especially if you put yourself in the their shoes. Not acknowledging gifts and parties is hugely disrespectful and shows entitlement, one of the lowest forms of rudeness possible.
5. Stop waving your cutlery around at the dinner table as though you were conducting an orchestra. Forks and knives are used for eating only, not for communicating more effectively.

The list could go on, but here is a fine place to begin. I’m sure you could add to this list if you put your mind to it, and I encourage you to do so by leaving comments on this blog. Before long, we’ll be feeling better about ourselves because we have taken the time to put others first!