That oldtime courtesyFollow

I was getting gas this morning, and some dumbfuck next to me was gassing up his car with a lit cigarette in his mouth. When I glared at him, he tossed it, still burning, a few feet away. Apparently, stepping on it to make sure it didn't light anything up was just too much damn effort, so I walked over and did it for him, earning a glare that matched my previous one. Suck it, donkey, I think.

I get in my car, drive to work, and when I get here, I am struggling with my bags, tying to find a free hand to open my office door. One of my Interpreters walks by and waves hi. After putting some items down on the floor, I manage to open the door and let myself in.

I am immediately assaulted by three ticked-off Mexicans. We have two small fridges at work, and someone left a coke can in there overnight that exploded. No one wants to clean it up, and they all complain that other folks bring in too much food (for the week as opposed to the day). I write a memo, send out a group email, and proceed to clean out both fridges and both microwaves, tossing out all kinds of rottenness and junk.

Now, I understand the thrill of getting away with something you shouldn't be doing, cutting corners, etc, but I have just about had it with the rampant inconsiderateness that some people have. I know there's not much I can do about it except mentally consign them all to a fiery pit, but there it is. It got me to wondering, are there any common courtesies that are overlooked that really get to you? Any ones you try to hold to?

I try to hold the door when people are coming in behind me, always say Hello and Good Morning etc, clean up after myself and let older folk and women with kids have seats on buses, etc. I'm annoyed as hell when people take handicapped spaces, don't open doors, or don't say 'excuse me' after burping, coughing, or bumping into you.

I hate it when I say excuse me or thank you to someone and they reply with yeah.

I always hold the door for anyone who is near. I do it without even thinking about it.

A lady that had a sewing shop in town hand-made me a leather backpack for high school graduation for being so polite. I didn't even remember her, but she said I always held the door open and was generally polite when she'd run onto me at the convenient store near her shop. I guess it is just automatic with me.

Kind of the opposite, it is also irritating when I have a mouth full of food and someone asks me a question and seems irritated that I take the time to finish my bite before answering.

The proper action to take would be to spit the food into your palm for a moment, answer their question, and then shove the grub back in your face-hole.

People that see courtesy as a comment on their capability/sex also **** me off. Learn to accept courtesies graciously. Someone is being nice to you. Enjoy!

Using the word "please". Is it really that painful of a word to spit out?

My other peeve is the "me and <insert name>". I was taught while growing up that you never say "me" or "I" first because it is common courtesy to put others ahead of you. I still correct my kids on this, and I hold to it, but I have had to give up hoping others do it properly since it seems so prevelent in today's society to put yourself ahead of others.

The holding the door open is something I always do, but it is interesting how many shocked looks I get and the stammered "thank you". I always thought it was a common courtesy that most people do.

Reading that while looking at your avatar is teh funny.

I detest litterbugs, inconsiderate drivers (I'm looking at you), people that stand idly by while their children act like boorish cnuts in public, restaurant or theatre cellphone people, and that *** that likes to stand three inches from you while you are in line.

I tend to open doors for women or let them precede me when passing through an entrance. I'm not discriminatory, I'll open them for old ladies, young ladies, hot chicks, fat girls; it doesn't mattre. I don't extend the same courtesy to men unless it appears they could use the assistance, such as accompanying a child or carrying an object of sufficient encumbrance that opening a door would be awkward. Usually the best you'll get out of me is the extra finger push if I'm already going through the door anyway. I don't recall being raised this way, it's just something I've always done.

Oh, and that prick that doesn't hold the elevator door when it's quite obvious that you fully intend to get on.

You don't toss it to them and expect them to catch it?

Hey, it's been done to me. Ya, I caught it. But considering I was working with knives all day at my old job it wasn't that big a deal.

I'm the type that opens doors for others, uses my please and thank yous and I always say have a good day.

What gets me are the fucktards that think that just because they are having a bad day, they should try to drag yours down to. I've worked in restaurants and hotels for the last 10-11 years and it is amazing how many people you come across in the hospitality industry that treat you like sh*t. Its not the restaurants fault that you came into a Pasta house and ordered a steak med-rare and got medium. They specialize in pasta, not steak you ****. Luckily, looking like Stone Cold, they get right peachy when I show up. Chicken sh*ts! You can pick on the waitress, but now that soemone bigger and meaner than you shows up, they apologize and act all submissive.

Edited, Aug 30th 2006 at 2:00pm EDT by Uglysasquatch

I just had someone hold the elevator for me. I always try to do this, and I hate when people don't return the courtesy. I hated it even more when I worked on the 11th floor. Kudos to you, nameless hospital employee!

Now see, this must be cultural. I always considered people that asked who I am when calling to be rude and nosey.

For the record, anyone working in a hotel restaurant should have mastered how to cook a steak. If you don't want people to have a choice of how it's cooked, don't offer it. I hate people that are slack in their jobs and shove blame elsewhere.

I understand not yelling at the waitress about it. It's not her fault. Just came to mind, is all.