Note to pompous people: It is a breach of etiquette to point out another's breach of etiquette.

me ^ | today | me

[Notwithstanding]

Keep this in your rolodex for use when etiquetter-than-thou types make noise: the first rule of etiquette is that you never draw attention to yourself or to the mistakes of others.

I had high-end formal etiquette training as a military cadet, and we were taught that if someone on unfamiliar turf (like a guest) were to commit a faux paus (like spill a drink) the very best thing we could do would be to do the same thing a little later on in order to make that person feel less like a boob.

If anything else , you do not correct others' mistakes. The mistakes of others end up catching up to those who make them - no help is needed.

[dead]

What is the proper etiquette if somebody drops a piece of cheese?

[Sloth]

BUMP

[Bush2000]

You just broke your own rule. Post hoc ergo procter hoc.

[ewchil]

Good thing he was never in the army. It might have killed him.

[jb54tx]

I wear my food well while dining in or out!

[SGCOS]

In my best New York accent while grabbing my crotch:

"i gotch yur etiquette right here"

sincerely,
native new yorker

[Dan Day]

Keep this in your rolodex for use when etiquetter-than-thou types make noise: the first rule of etiquette is that you never draw attention to yourself or to the mistakes of others.

You mean, just like you yourself are doing here?

What's the matter, did someone embarrass you by correcting one of your mistakes, and now you're retaliating by denouncing it as an uncouth act?

If anything else , you do not correct others' mistakes.

Yup, sure looks like it...

Sorry, but I care too much about the truth and civilized behavior to let misinformation or inexcusable crudeness slide just because it would supposedly be "impolite" to correct it.

Being civilized doesn't mean remaining "politely" silent in the face of violations of proper standards -- we can only maintain something resembling civilized society if we speak up and make it clear that anything less is unacceptable.

[NittanyLion]

I had high-end formal etiquette training as a military cadet, and we were taught that if someone on unfamiliar turf (like a guest) were to commit a faux paus (like spill a drink) the very best thing we could do would be to do the same thing a little later on in order to make that person feel less like a boob.

So then when you spill your drink, does a third person have to spill theirs, so that you feel like less of a boob?

[Int]

This thread is not aimed at posting or HTLM corrections

You did that on plurpose didn't you? :-) A bump for your post!!

[4CJ]

LOL - probably as much as I have come to detest the phrase "terror attacks". Terror does not attack - "terrorists" do.

[dirtboy]

What is the proper etiquette if somebody drops a piece of cheese?

Sic a moose on them...

[Dan Day]

Keep this in your rolodex for use when etiquetter-than-thou types make noise: the first rule of etiquette is that you never draw attention to yourself or to the mistakes of others.

Just for fun, why don't you post the incident that prompted you to post this, so that we can decide for ourselves whether it's actually a matter of someone being rudely "pompous" -- or whether it's a case of giving hell to someone who richly deserved it and you're just whining because your ox was gored.

[TheLooseThread]

So where the hell does that little fork go?? On the inside or outside of the dinner plate?

[ofMagog]

Thou shalt not mention cheese.
Cheese thou shalt not mention.
Mention not cheese.

The boy had high end training educating and we must respect that.

[SGCOS]

So where the hell does that little fork go??

On the Gherkin tray, of course.

[ofMagog]

Shame!

Have you no cooth?

OWK's sister was bitten by a moose.

[San Jacinto]

I fully agree with you sentiments. One should not criticize unnecessarily. However, it must be pointed out that your use of the term "like" is wholly inappropriate in the context employed. You say, "...someone on unfamiliar turf (like a guest) were to commit a faux paus (like spill a drink)..."

You are using a term meant for comparison, when you actually intend to cite a "for instance" example.

A literal interpretation of your phraseology would be, "...someone on unfamiliar ground (very similar to or almost the same as a guest) were to commit a faux paus (resembling or characteristic of spilling a drink)..."

A better expression would have been to substitute "such as" or "for example" for the chosen term.

Despite the expressionary flaws, I do agree with your premise and message. A little less pompousity is certainly in order, and I hope we will all be more restrained in criticizing the minor errors of our compatriots.

[dirtboy]

OWK's sister was bitten by a moose.

That's what she gets for dropping her cheese at a party. She should hang out with a better grade of people. Like my relatives. We don't sick moose on people who drop cheese. Just dobermans.