Kirsten Hudson (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} pinkospy) wrote,@ 2004-12-23 11:31:00 |
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Civetiquette
I've been thinking alot about civic etiquette lately. I'm chock full of anxiety, and when that's the case, it doesn't take much to set my nerves a jangling. So civility matters. Alot. And I become acutely aware of all the things we do that we could do better. Like riding the escalator. It wouldn't be hard to stand on the right and walk on the left. And if we all did it no one would be stuck standing when they'd rather be walking. And there would be a little less anxiety in the air. But we don't do it. And not out of spite, but rather because it is not one of those "rules."
Some civic etiquette is legalized--like poop scooping in NYC. It made a difference when it was introduced, though I've noticed that people are slacking off quite a bit lately. Some is localized--like not walking 3 abreast on the sidewalks of New York. Some is an extension of private manners--like covering your mouth when you cough.
Civetiquette affects the individual, but it is hard for the individual to address. There is a PDF circulating round the interweb of some cards to be handed out to cell phone abusers (i.e. "You're talking VERY LOUDLY. Please SHUSH.") but they seem rather antagonistic. I can't imagine sharing space with someone once you've handed them such a card, which defeats the purpose. I'd love to have some stickers for escalators--simple ones indicating that one should stand on the right and walk on the left. Which of course would have to be stuck on escalators--thus defacing private and public property, albeit for the greater good (albeit as defined by me).
Here's another solution: (via boingboing) http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/200
I've been thinking alot about civic etiquette lately. I'm chock full of anxiety, and when that's the case, it doesn't take much to set my nerves a jangling. So civility matters. Alot. And I become acutely aware of all the things we do that we could do better. Like riding the escalator. It wouldn't be hard to stand on the right and walk on the left. And if we all did it no one would be stuck standing when they'd rather be walking. And there would be a little less anxiety in the air. But we don't do it. And not out of spite, but rather because it is not one of those "rules."
Some civic etiquette is legalized--like poop scooping in NYC. It made a difference when it was introduced, though I've noticed that people are slacking off quite a bit lately. Some is localized--like not walking 3 abreast on the sidewalks of New York. Some is an extension of private manners--like covering your mouth when you cough.
Civetiquette affects the individual, but it is hard for the individual to address. There is a PDF circulating round the interweb of some cards to be handed out to cell phone abusers (i.e. "You're talking VERY LOUDLY. Please SHUSH.") but they seem rather antagonistic. I can't imagine sharing space with someone once you've handed them such a card, which defeats the purpose. I'd love to have some stickers for escalators--simple ones indicating that one should stand on the right and walk on the left. Which of course would have to be stuck on escalators--thus defacing private and public property, albeit for the greater good (albeit as defined by me).
Here's another solution: (via boingboing) http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/200
