Common courtesy......

[Tinks]

Apparently isn't very common these days.

The other day i was in line at Coles putting my trolley full of groceries up on the belt. There was one man behind me in the queue, probably in his early 20's holding about 3 items. I asked him if he'd like to go before me seeing as I had a huge amount to get through and he only had a few things. He declined, so I told him I really didn't mind if he goes before me once again, so after a while he agreed to. The whole time he thanked me and even said goodbye as he left. Then when it was my turn the girl at the register thanked me and told me what a nice gesture it was to let him go ahead of me. I was a bit shocked, I thought this type of thing was quite normal and happened often. As I talked about it with her, she told me that not many people let others go before them anymore and how she hardly sees it happen.

This really shocked me and got me thinking that maybe 'Common Courtesy' isn't very common these days. I've lost count of the number of times people have raced through a door and let it slam in front of the person behind them. Or drivers who don't allow another driver to cut in front of them while at traffic lights.

I wonder what other BBers think. Do you let peole cut infront of you at the checkout if they only have a few items or hold doors open instead of letting htem slam in peoples faces etc?

[BrightSparkles]

I always hold doors or let people in (whether at the supermarket or in traffic etc) But I have to say, I do agree with the girl at the checkout - I can't say i've experienced allot of people who do the same thing.

[~clover~]

I find people around me do these things. Not always the checkout line thing, but I've often had it happen.
I also had someone give me her spare woolies docket for a fuel voucher too. That blew me away!!

[Rainbow_Mumma]

if i have a full trolley and see somebody with a few things i let them go first as i would like to think somebody would do it for me as they kindly did yesterday.
But i sadly have to agree common courtesy just isnt common anymore which is a real shame

[Kazbah]

I will often hold the door open for people who need it (even if I'm not going through it). Letting other people in front of you in the queue, well that happens too in this neighbourhood!

We had a bunch of trainees at work, and the kids (geeze I must be getting old!) were all going through the door, and letting it slam on the next person. I gave them hell and advised that wasn't showing respect for individuals ... anyhows, now all of them will open doors for everyone and make sure they don't slam anyone's face !

[MrsB26]

I let people go first sometimes. WHat i like to do the most is when they ask if i have fly buys (which i dont) i usually ask the person behind me if they want to have my points and to go ahead and scan their card. People love that! i dont mind cause i dont have them and it only takes a second for them to get theri card out if they havent already.

[Artechim]

I always let people go in front at the supermarket if they have only a couple of things, but no one ever seems to offer when I don't have much.

I have had people politely stand and wait for me as I fight to hold a door open while getting the pram though - apparently it doesn't even occur to them that I would be a lot faster if they held the door open for me.

[Eenee]

yeah I generally let people with a few items go before me or if i'm not in a rush and they have about as much as me I also let them go before me. What i don't like is when people think they have the ultimate right to go before you if they only have a few things- because if they waited 2 seconds then i'd offer!

[Tinks]

What i don't like is when people think they have the ultimate right to go before you if they only have a few things- because if they waited 2 seconds then i'd offer!

That annoys me too!

Today, for example, I was making a coffee for a customer today who was standing at the counter when another customer walked in. He waited for a minute and could see that i was serving the customer who was already in the shop before him, then started to ring the bell we have on the counter. I turned around thinking it was someone I knew and the man looked at me and said "i'm in a hurry". I smiled sweetly and told him I'd be with him in a minute. What gives him the right to push in? He's not the most important person in the world!

[Floweryfields]

I think you're right! I do the same in the checkout as you did quite often, but hardly ever have had anyone do it for me. I find people are generally becomming ruder sadely enough.

[mummato1]

I am so with you on this one! Its actually one of my pet hates, the lack of common courtesy.

I also do the same at the supermarket and I am always surprised by the reactions I get, people are really surprised and thankful.

Yes I let traffic in.. however I dont think its hard to give a little wave to say thanks and acknowledge it! I hate it when people just expect to be let in or just drive out in front so you have to stop.

I also give my parking meter slips to whoever I can see around that has just pulled up, I have even put one back in the machine tray when there wasnt anyone to give it to.. I just hope it made someones day!

People never holds doors anymore, its so rude!! I had some old guy let the door slam in my face when I was carrying DS the other day.. it was obvious I had my hands full!

I could go on... its just one of those things that really irks me!

[aussienic]

I have let others in front of me and have been allowed in front on numerous occassions..

Even though I am still on my learners (can drive just slack getting proper license lol) I let people in I am in no rush to get places. Dh is a little less patient and thinks why should he. I make him though LOL

I hold doors open for men and women of all ages. If I am holding the door and someone is coming I just hold it.

I find the rudest of all in the shops are the elderly women. They never move out of anyones road. Although iin saying that when I went to the shops this morning I came across 3 lovely older ladies. My darling children were being a bit silly and not watching where they were going and nearly walked into their trollies and they weren't at all rude infact they said.. Oh thats all right dear

So yeh in response to your question I come across common courtesy a decent amount but still think there is room for improvement. I do teach my children basic courtesy

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I see it all the time at my work. But it must be the type of place i work in. But in the supermarket it doesnt happen all that often. When im loading my stuff and i can see someone behind me with a big basket i will compact my stuff so they can put their basket up. My DP is very rude he doesnt do anything like that... doesnt hold doors open, nothing. But i was brought up to be courteous of other people. As for traffic Canberra people are horrible, they dont even know how to merge into one lane.. and theyre great for cutting each other off..

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I usually let cars out - my good deed for the day done!

In supermarkets... depends on DS. If he's in an OK mood then someone can cut in front. If he's getting itchy to get out, then sorry mate, I was here first and have a cranky son.

I hold open doors, say "thank you", give old ladies lifts home, share my son with the neighbourhood old ladies, stop children running away from their mothers (WISH someone would return this favour!) and am generally community-minded. Getting rarer where I live, but not dead completely!

[~Kim~]

We live in the country, so courtesy is a little more 'common', but still a dying artform IMO.
Manners sadly seem to be dying with it.

People seem to think that being rude is their right....if only they knew how freeing and how happy it make you feel to be polite and courteous, they might do it more often.
Being courteous does make me feel nice, selfish I think but it makes me try to do it more often

[Trillian]

You should move to to the country. I see it all the time out here - people still open doors for you if you have a pram and will let you cut in front in the supermarket queue. I open doors for people and I will often reach high item on a shelf that an older person can't get (but there is one lady, barely 5ft tall who shimmies up the shelves to get what she wants ROFL, she's a dynamo! but I digress) there isn't many people out here that wont do it for you.

[Tinks]

I live in a country area Trillian and things like that happen here all the time. I guess i've come to think of it as normal. I was in a major shopping centre when the grocery example happened, I seriously thought it happened everywhere. I guess I was wrong.

[MrsFabuloso]

I often let people in at the shops to pay for a few items if I have a thousand, lol! I have had it happen for me too. I also let people in on the road and I'm a pretty courteous driver, though that's not so common around here. People are just in such a state thinking about their own lives I think they forget that other people have their own problems too. I try to be mindful of other people.
I have tried to offer my free coffee voucher from Wiggles playland, more than one time, to people before when we were leaving and noone would take it! I offered it to several people too, lol! Only once has an elderly lady accepted it from me....
Sometimes, these days I think that because generosity and being openly nice to others is so rare that people are taken aback and automatically react in a negative way. I usually try to e gracious and accept if it's in my favour. After all it not aonly make you feel good that someone is being nice to you, it makes the other person feel good in helping!