Common Courtesy

Today I thought I would give everyone a helpful reminder that you shouldn't always be thinking about yourself first. Many people forget a thing called common courtesy. There are so many rude things that I see people doing, every day, everywhere I go, that could have been avoided if they had used common courtesy. It often makes me wonder how people get that way. Did they have parents who didn't teach them their manners and how to not always put themselves first? Or maybe they are rich and are so wrapped up in themselves because they are so used to everything going their way all of the time? Or maybe they are angry at world and don't want to change who they are because it's their "payback?" Or maybe they just are so naturally oblivious they seriously don't realize what they're doing? Whatever the reason is, everyone should take a good look at themselves and what they do on a daily basis and ask themselves "am I being a courteous person?"

Here are some of the common courtesies that people forget to practice every day:

1. Elevator Etiquette: Always, always let the people that are on the elevator get off before you get on. It is so rude to try to jam your way into the elevator before letting people off. It forces the people in the elevator to awkwardly try to turn and weave around you while you make the elevator more full and congested than it would have been if you had just stopped for 5-10 seconds to let the people off. 

-And a side note, keep small talk in the elevator to a minimum. A simple "good morning" or "have a nice day" is fine. I don't need to hear your life story while I'm forced into this claustrophobic space with you. 

2. Driving in the 3rd Lane on the Freeway: I've discussed this in a previous blog post, but if you haven't read it, here you go. If you are driving 65mph or under, THERE IS NO NECESSITY FOR YOU TO BE THERE. Also, the third lane is the passing lane. Therefore, stay to the right unless you are passing other cars. And if you are stagnant in the third lane and someone is behind you flashing their lights, by law you are to move over the second lane and let them pass. You heard me right. BY LAW YOU MUST MOVE OVER! The reason? Because it is illegal to pass on the right. Passing of cars must be done in the lane left of the car you are passing. Therefore, if you are in the third lane, THERE'S NOWHERE TO LEGALLY PASS SO GET OUT OF THE WAY! By making the person pass you on the right by you being stubborn and not getting out the way, you are causing that person to do something unsafe and illegal and you are the one who will be ticketed, not them. Cops can and will pull you over if they witness this occurrence so STOP IT!

3. Sneezing and Coughing: If you have the need to sneeze or cough in a public space, DO IT INTO YOUR ARM! Please do not cough or sneeze into your hands. That's disgusting!! You're just getting your germs all over your hands which you use to touch everything and spread your icky nastiness to other people. Or even worse, don't cough and sneeze just out in the open without making any effort to cover your mouth/nose with anything. People are disgusting... EWWWWW

4. When You're Driving in the Rain: PUT ON YOUR DAMN HEADLIGHTS!!! And if the sun is going down, PUT ON YOUR DAMN HEADLIGHTS!!!! Enough said.

5. When You're Sick: Don't come to work or school sick. The teacher will understand if you miss one class, and that's what you have sick days for. Please do not come in and infect the rest of us. It is so effin disgusting and not courteous at all, and SOOOOOO selfish when you decide that you getting to class or work is more important than the health of the people around you. Eff you, if you're one of these disgusting and selfish people.

6. Be on Time: UGHHHH So many people are late. I feel like I'm constantly waiting for people because they never have the decency or courteousness to show up at the time we agreed upon. Get your busy life together and learn how to be on time!!

7. Turn Your Phone on Silent: When you are at a wedding, in class, at work, at the movies, etc, TURN YOUR DAMN PHONE ON SILENT! You don't understand how rude you are being when there is a crucial moment occurring and your lame-ass ringtone starts going off for all to hear and interrupt. RUDE RUDE RUDE!

8. Cologne/Perfume: If you are going to be in a public place in close proximity of people for an extended period of time, i.e. school, work, movie theater, etc, please do not use too much cologne or perfume. You might think you smell great, but to the rest of us, you're making us want to barf. This last point I'm making I decided to bring up because I was in one of my law classes at school and a fellow student walked by and reeked of his cologne and for about 5 minutes, I thought I was going to start upchucking in the middle of class. Such a distinct smell should not be legal. And I feel bad for the women who had to sit near him for the entirety of class. Poor ladies...

Okay. I'm done with my ranting for today, but if you have any other common courtesies that you believe people should be practicing, feel free to email me and I'll try to make a funny rant about it in another post. jessica_panza@yahoo.com