Posted on 04/30/2014 5:25:17 AM PDT by Kaslin
The times they are a-changing in ways even Bob Dylan didn't foresee.
I have an early childhood memory riding my bike and coming across a discarded booklet on proper social etiquette. It had the perfunctory rules. Gentlemen always open doors for ladies. Stand when a lady comes in the room. And so on. But the one I remember vividly is this: A lady always extends her hand first in greeting. Why? Fifty years ago I could understand the concept, but even then, I thought it was a bit much. Today that rule's been abandoned.
Who decides these things anyway? Miss Manners (Judith Martin) entered the arena in 1978 and instantly became America's politeness pundit, writing thousands of columns printed in more than 200 newspapers ever since. She's arguably the nation's most influential arbiter of social etiquette.
In 2007, she addressed the hand-extension issue, updated. The question from a reader: After spending dinner with a new acquaintance, is it appropriate to give her a kiss on the cheek? Answer: "Wait to see what the lady would do. If she put out her hand, you should have shaken it; if she offered her cheek, you should have kissed it, or rather the air close to it."
Some advice is Laura Schlessinger-esque, though: "Deadbeat Dad Not Welcome." "Snippy. Never." "Motherhood Is Not for Fathers." And my favorite: "Dress Properly for Court."
Some columns deal with broad policy. "Flag Etiquette." "Rules for Touring Tragedy Sites." "Protocol for Courtship."
There are those topics that best reflect the Prim & Proper etiquette discussion while best defining the Miss Manners genre. "Left is Right for Passing Plates." "Hold the Door." "Speak Your Mind, but Mind What You Say." "The Polite Way to Disapprove."
And then there's the advice worthy of the Delphic oracle herself. "Forks: To Spear or to Scoop?"
Oh, but how we've moved on from that.
The Washington Post has carried the Miss Manners column forever. Move over, Miss Manners, it's 2014, and it's a brave new world, and you now have company. Make room for the Post's new columnist, Mr. Manners.
You see it coming before you read the words.
"Steven Petrow will be joining our advice ranks," declares the Post, "with a special emphasis on LGBT and straight etiquette issues." Petrow, states his bio, is "the go-to source for modern manners ... known as Mr. Manners." Why was he chosen for the job? He will tell you it's largely because he's the former president of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.
His column is called "Civilities" (get it, homophobes?), and Mr. Manners will tackle many thorny etiquette issues as well. In his introductory piece, he outlines some of the issues he's dealt with in the past. He muses about the gay cop who wrote in to say he was subjected to homophobic jokes, feeling it was his colleagues' way of convincing him to resign. Or the gay widower upset that his in-laws omitted him from his husband's obituary. Or the most vexing question of them all: How to introduce a married same-sex couple? (Answer: They "should be referred to as you would any legal spouse, and that's 'husband' and 'wife.'")
Questions, questions. "Do parents pay for their gay son or lesbian daughter's wedding?" "Is a dad expected to walk his son down the aisle?" "What pronoun (and restroom) is appropriate for a person who is transgender?" "How do you respond to 'assimilated' gays who find 'flamboyant' ones embarrassing?"
How do you respond to an entire industry you find embarrassing?
For the record, Mr. Manners would like it established that he is not infallible. "As I'm always quick to point out I'm far from perfect (just ask my husband!)."
Exactly
Actually, you/he would be wrong. With no way to truly tell what they are, the correct term is she/he/it, or ‘shit’ for short.
Leviticus 20:13
...in a moment of awkward nervousness, I extended my hand; she stood there, motionless, and I was mortified. Lesson learned !
***
It’s good that you got it. I am a woman who was properly brought up, and I truly despise the current state of handshaking. I am not comfortable at all with it.
On top of it is the hygiene issue at an event such as a cocktail party, where I have to use the same hand to eat hors d’oeuvres.
More times than not, it’s the man extending his hand to me first. But I don’t fault them, as the world has been turned upside down in so many ways, and men are not encouraged to treat women differently. This new columnist gig would have sounded like some comedy plot only 20 years ago.
Mgic Johnson does not talk about his son....
To even suggest such a thing is homophobic...
Infections transferred by oro-anal sex — Dangerous bowel organisms Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter can all be transmitted by oro-anal contact.
Shigella: Causes severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and fever.
Hepatitis A: A common viral infection that can cause jaundice and abdominal pain. It is not usually life-threatening, although sufferers can feel very ill. The virus is often found in feces in high concentrations and will almost inevitably be present on the apparently clean anal skin of infected individuals. It can be transmitted by oro-anal contact. Several epidemic outbreaks have been reported among gay men, but heterosexual couples practicing oro-anal contact are just as likely to be at risk.
Hepatitis B: A viral infection. It is common in hot countries and around the Mediterranean. It used to be rare in the UK, but rates are rising. It is particularly common among people who have had a previous sexually transmitted disease, and among drug users. It can cause a very serious, potentially fatal, liver disease and chronic liver damage. It is most commonly transmitted by inoculation of infected blood, by sharing needles for injection, needlestick injuries and the medical use of infected blood products. Virus particles are found in semen, stool and saliva, as well as blood. Evidence is clear that it can be transmitted through anal intercourse, but it is unproven whether it can be transmitted through oral sex. Certainly, there is a theoretical risk. Several epidemic outbreaks have been reported among gay men, but heterosexual couples practicing oro-anal contact are just as likely to be at risk.
Hepatitis C: A viral infection transmitted in a similar way to hepatitis B and often affects drug users. Some people with hepatitis C infection were infected with blood products, such as transfusions, prior to adequate screening procedures in the 1980s. In 2013, it was reported in a US study that the risk of catching hepatitis C through any kind of sex (including oral sex) was low. But it may be greater if you are HIV-positive. Several epidemic outbreaks have been reported among gay men, but heterosexual couples practicing oro-anal contact are just as likely to be at risk.
Worms: Threadworms, and probably other worms, can be transmitted by oro-anal contact.
With nothing but upside to oro-anal and genital-anal contact...gosh, you would think everyone would be doing it, right.
Thanks for your insight, Bigg Red !
ICK!
“when I found myself talking with him, he was trying to telegraph, what he was about. “
Why, oh why is it that all homos always tell you they are homos?
When you first meet with in 5-10 min they will let you know.
Like I care. Leave it alone. Don’t go there. It is not polite to mention sex when meeting someone for the first time, or a new acquaintance, so why is it apparently just ‘peachy-keen’ for homos to do so?
I guess for a homo their entire being is about their perversion and they want everyone to share in it. . .they want heterosexuals to say their nasty and not normal behavior is. . .well. . .not nasty and is normal. They NEED heterosexual affirmation.
Never are they questioned about their filthy, disgusting, disease ridden sexual practices that are so vividly described and taught by the likes of Dan Savage on college campuses around the nation.
What pronoun (and restroom) is appropriate.
Thing 1 and thing 2
My post was dripping with sarcasm...organisms aren’t homophobic, they are a by-product of disgusting, dirty, filthy, un-clean behavior.
But we are all supposed to believe that there is no down side to their behavior — It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to realize that there are just some places a man’s wiener (or face) doesn’t belong.
My Brother in Law was in the Jock Dorm at U Mass when Magic played. He, at the time thought, he was a nice guy.
“It puts the lotion on its skin or it gets the hose again.”
I can’t get the bizarre image of Buffalo Bill out of my mind when someone mentions “transgenders.”
No...the original one. Heard it got a place in Buckland where is it? I loved Brigham’s.
Pepe’s family got tired of pizza and sold out. They’ve gone UNO:
157 Wooster Street, New Haven,CT – (1936)
163 Wooster Street, New Haven, CT- “The Spot” – (1925).
238 Commerce Drive, Fairfield, CT – (March 2006)
221 Buckland Hills Drive, Manchester, CT – (September 2007)
1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino (July 1, 2009)
1955 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY – (November 2009) [12]
59 Federal Road, Danbury, CT – (January 2011) [13]
1148 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT - (September 23, 2013)
I also had the pleasure of The Spot, before Pepe’s subsumed them. It was actually better before becoming the Pepe’s annex. Modern Apizza isn’t on Wooster, but it should have honorary status. They make a very good apizza. I’m also ex-CT, and outside of family and friends, I miss the pizza most.
I was lucky enough to find a good New Haven style place in Chicago ... Piece Pizza on North Ave. Lousy sports bar atmosphere, great food.
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