Are you polite? How do you measure politeness?

Question

In July the Reader's Digest printed an article on it. Does helping someone pick up papers, holding the door open for those behind or thanking people constitute politeness. Have you witness any other instances of politeness or done something nice for others? Tell all.

Answer 1

I am the kind of person that, even thought I have a toddler in one hand and a baby in the other, will hold doors for someone. If someone holds a door for me I thank them. If someone helped me do anything.. I thank them. I live in a Duplex, and the neighbor left the garbage out on her step one night by mistake, the next morning, it was all ripped to shreds and strewn across the driveway... She is an elderly lady, and I helped her pick it up. That's polite. I think that any time you see someone need a little bit of help, and you can help them.. the polite thing to do it to do it. It's common human decency.. and it's always appreciated.

I know that when I have a pissy 4 year old in one hand and his baby brother in the other, trying to carry a bag of groceries.. sometimes someone holding the door open for me can brighten up the situation a little bit.. and it's ALWAYS appreciated.

Answer 2

Yes, this is the norm for me. And for that reason I get the same thing back. Other instances for me asking someone in a wheelchair if they need my help holding the door, letting cars go into lane when there is a lot of traffic and you notice no one else has let them in. Giving someone a few cents when they are at shop and they don't have enough. being in the market and a product when in that was not mine was put with my groceries, and I said that was not mine, the teller was going to take out but I said to the lady behind, no that is OK, this is your early x-mas gift. I didn't even knew her. But it is little things that one does that makes the day for me. I AM NOT A SAINT DON'T GET ME WRONG, but I am a nice person, except when you make me angry.Then look out.

Answer 3

At the ripe old age of (approaching) 60, I have always tried to be pleasant and polite to others, however I gave it up about 3 months ago, when, on holding a shop door open for a young woman (I hesitate to call her a lady) in her late teens/early 20's, she looked at me as if I'd just crawled out from under a rock and snarled "Do I look f*****g disabled grandad?" I just shrugged and let go of the door. Was it my fault if it hit her in the face?

Answer 4

I have done picking up papers, holding a door open for those behind, Thanking people for their generosity, letting someone with less groceries get ahead of me,
helping an elderly woman with her groceries. Allowing those with a disability to go first, listening to elders when they talk..

Answer 5

You can measure the politeness in the peoples face, the feelings shows very clearly that how much polite you are towards them. But same time donot be so polite in un neccessary situations

Answer 6

i think that is all being polite. other things include pulling out someone's chair for them, saying please, being considerate, sometimes keeping an opinion to yourself... there are so many little things that people can do to be polite. they are not hard, but they are hard to list... especially for me - i was brought up to do a lot of this stuff and it's just second nature for me. i really only notice it when someone is not doing it. but a "thank you" always comes out when someone does something like that for me. it's just ingrained into me

Answer 7

I live in a community where politeness is the norm. It is easy to be polite by treating people like you would like to be treated instead of treating them the way they treat you. Politeness is contagious also. So try spreading it. *smiles*

Answer 8

yup, just rate from one to ten