Definition
The showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behavior towards others.
Quotes
“No one is too big to be courteous, but some are too little”
“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.”
“Courtesy is a small act but it packs a mighty wallop”
“It is difficult to find a courteous person today who isn’t trying to sell you something”
Importance of common courtesy
It is not that long ago that common courtesy was indeed common. It was an accepted social norm; a fundamental part of our society that oiled the cogs of social interaction. Children were taught their Ps and Qs and to respect their elders. This ingrained attitude was reflected in adults that showed courtesy and respect to others, whether they believed those others worthy of such or not. While this was not true of all, it was true of most.
The main benefit common courtesy provided society was not the formulaic courtesy or social manners it provided, but the consideration for others that it engendered. Being courteous necessitates considering the person you are being courteous to. The practice of being courteous therefore instills an attitude of consideration for others. This is noticeably lacking in modern society. People are no longer considering how their actions may impact others, instead we are operating on the basis of what is most convenient for ourselves. We get on an escalator and stand in the middle of our moving step, blocking the way without any thought that someone behind us might want to walk up the escalator. We park our cars on footpaths without considering that a parent with a pram or pushchair will have to go out onto the road to get past.
People are still considerate to others, even strangers. The offers of aid in many forms that flood in to help those who are victims of natural disasters demonstrates this. But we only seem to have this consideration when circumstances thrust the need into our faces. We have lost the innate ability to consider others in our day to day activities, because we have lost the education and practice of doing so with the loss of common courtesy.
The loss of common courtesy from our society has resulted in a decrease in the consideration for others that we seem able to conceive to display and give. The increase in crime and particularly violent crime is a likely result. Courtesy and consideration shown towards others can not be legislated, they need to be taught. Common courtesy was a part of a society that was unjust in its discrimination, but in the main it was not a causative factor of that injustice. If we wish to improve the society of today, we need to re-instigate common courtesy as a major component of our social interaction.
Examples of common courtesy
-holding out a door for anyone
-considering an action before doing it and how it will affect others
-respect elders and others
