How the PC brigade are killing off chivalry.
Speaking as a member of the fairer sex (how’s that for sexism?
) I can assure that there’s at least one woman who fully appreciates it when a man shows courtesy. I can also assure you that when a man kisses my hand in greeting I tend to get a bit weak in the knees. (There’s a free tip for any male who’s trying to impress a woman.)
Too many people are either afraid to show courtesy fearing they’ll be slapped with a sexual harassment lawsuit or are from the generations that look down on someone showing courtesy. Courtesy, to my way of thinking, is one of the major glues that holds civilization together. Everything from letting the person with one or two items go ahead of you in a checkout line, to opening a door or standing aside when someone who is disabled enters is what differentiates a truly civilized person from a callous elitist.
Well, if you want to get my attention, be an uncouth clod. Sexist? What is sexist about assuming the role of protector and showing a woman courtesy? It infuriates me when I see a bunch of men in business suits or boys in baggy pants who will not get off their asses to offer a seat to a woman. It really frosts me to see a woman struggle with heavy objects and have young men stand around and do nothing. I really think less of a man who doesn’t offer his arm when trying to navigate through a crowd or offer a hand on an uneven surface, especially if I’m wearing heels. I don’t expect the high-maintenance Princess treatment, but I certainly expect courtesy and a little chivalry goes a long long way. I like compliments when I look nice too. You won’t find this gal bringing you up on sexual harassment charges, like a friend of mine was, when he had the audacity to tell a long time co-worker that the color of her new suit was flattering.
Perhaps the biggest courtesy we forget these days is to club the PC to death when encountered. The word for someone who will not extend simple courtesies to others is an asshole, what sort of people prefer treatment from ignorant assholes to a bit of courtesy? We are moving to Canada before Christmas and that is one country where old fashioned courtesy is encouraged.
Posted by Chris Edwards
09/20/2008 at 03:30 PM
Hell, I hold the door open for everybody. If I am walking in/out of a store and any guy/gal is close to going though the same door, I hold if for them. Letting it shut in their face would be the insult. Is it that freakin’ hard? It’s not chivalry, it’s called courtesy.
Posted by ozarkmatt
09/20/2008 at 06:02 PM
Peiper, you were a gentleman. She was a boor. Some “people”, dress them up how you may, still act like the proverbial pig wearing lipstick.
See, I thought being described as a boor was reserved for guys. This “lady” who slammed Peiper was a frakkin’ bitch. Peiper was a gentleman not to have replied, “And when was the last time you had something shoved up your ass?”
As a child I heard OFTEN, “If you don’t have time to be polite, you need to slow down.”
I agree 100% with Valgerd. It’s not sexism, it’s being members of a civilized society as opposed to members of a barbarian horde. Just like ozarkmatt, I don’t care what the gender is of the person I’m being polite to.
Yes I know, sometimes you are letting yourself in for ill-treatment at the hands of people “fluent” in political correctness yet “illiterate” in their understanding of how civilizations work. As Heinlein once said, I believe the loss of gentle manners marks the decline of civilization for clearly than riots do. So what if I risk condemnation from the very people I’m polite to? If I’m “damned if I do, damned if I don’t”, I’d rather be damned because I did.Rather than, “I’m not helpless you know”, the way it was worded to me once was “I’m fully capable of opening a door, you know.” I just replied, “Yes I know, but even a vicious minded bitch like you rates common courtesy. Character building doesn’t count for anything if you only do it when it’s easy.”
Just cos you believe in chivalry and good manners doesn’t mean you can’t be a real dickhead when the situation calls for it. Think of it as the dark side of diplomacy.
Once in my youth, during a early wave of hostile feminism, I had the occasion to arrive at the door of an office building at the same time as a female close to my own age. Instead of the requisite “thank you,” she sneered at me and said, “you DON’T have to hold the door for me because I’m a lady.”
“I’m not,” I answered. “I’m holding the door for you because I’m a gentleman.”
I wonder if the full meaning of what I said ever entered that pretty little head of her…
Posted by karnold
09/22/2008 at 01:34 PM
Karnold, I’d be willing to wager she never caught on to what you were saying. Them as is blind with their own agendas rarely do see where others are coming from.
