Manners are a set of behaviors that distinguish someone as a civilized and cultured member of a society. They vary from place to place and involve treating people with respect and courtesy. Good manners are important in social situations and can help travelers adapt to different cultures.
Manners are a set of behaviors that distinguish someone as a civilized and cultured member of a society. Manners are usually taught from an early age, with some people receiving additional training in etiquette, formal rules of conduct that apply to a variety of situations. Someone who lacks manners may be considered rude or inappropriate, and may be at a disadvantage in many social situations.
The precise behaviors involved in good manners vary from place to place. Cultural traditions play a large role in manners, as do religious beliefs, social status, and economic class. What may be proper behavior in the White House may be considered grossly inappropriate in the Kremlin, while a perfectly acceptable standard of behavior in rural Greece might not be considered appropriate in a meeting with the Queen of England. As a general rule, people learn manners that pertain to their particular social, economic and cultural situation, and travelers must learn specific rules of conduct to adapt when visiting other societies.
Good manners cover everything from how to introduce people to how to eat. While the precise nature of manners can vary, the underlying principles do not. Good manners involve treating people with respect and courtesy and making sure that other people feel comfortable in a variety of situations. The old biblical rule of “do as you would be done by” is sometimes used as an illustration of how good manners should work.
Someone who has been properly trained will usually show more respect and deference to older people, as well as people who hold high-level positions of authority. Good manners usually involve using respectful forms of address, such as formal titles, and being attuned to social situations to use the activities of others as behavioral cues. For example, someone who has never eaten a formal dinner can still demonstrate good manners by following the lead of others around the table.
Manners go a long way in most societies. Polite people are more likely to get ahead in business and are also more commonly found invited as guests and welcomed into society. In tense social situations, awareness of good manners and social rules of behavior can help defuse the tension, or at least avoid a serious accident, and will remind one of attention to the correct codes of conduct. Travelers who take the time to familiarize themselves with the codes of conduct in the regions they are visiting will often find their way smoother and will be welcome in the future.
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