Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

What stood out to me is that the people who were involved have been (supposedly) steeped in protocol, manners, and courtesy their entire lives. If they are disinclined to automatically offer such courtesy, I suspect that this might be a deterioration everywhere.

Does common courtesy now need to be taught? If so, where?

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

Normally its a show by example, but I think because these things are not so common anymore, it does need to be taught. I think youth groups or parenting classes should be the first port of call.

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

Hi

Times have changed.

In days of old, men walked on the street side to protect ladies from horse mounted robbers

This is no longer the case, the threat is now from muggers in shop and other doorways.

Etiquette has changed to reflect this.

There are many such traditions, such as a man sleeps on the side of the bed with his sword arm free, to be able to protect the lady during the night.

It was part of my job at one time during my life to teach personal safety for females and write the training manuals, in particular for lone workers in high risk situations.

I worked with Erin Pizzey on domestic violence and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

(Ugh. Don't get me into a nature/nurture debate .)

Not at all. I'd like to think that we are sophisticated enough thinkers, with enough self-control, to overcome the propensity of one over the other in various circumstances.

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

Thank goodness my husband is still a gentleman and still keeps his "old fashioned?" manners.

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

That’s interesting ,do you say please and thank you?..

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

A good start, but the parents who need to go, wouldn't. What if preteens had to show a number of hours of instruction on a host of areas of concern - manners, safety, de-escalating, problem solving involving strangers, self-defense, road rage, etc. from a source (church, after school instruction, private instruction, online courses, etc. of their choosing?

SF, you have me now thinking about more extreme forms of safety. Perhaps that needs to be part of a formal education, as well?

I always thought that the protection of sidewalk positioning was more about not getting splashed by the gawd-awful stuff that was in the street.

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

Hi

Personal Safety was very important in my area of work.

You are even taught where to sit in a room, and it is not where you expect.

Yes, it was extreme, but effective and lone worker females in high risk situations were my staff.

It was not very PC and frowned upon by some, but they were people who had never been in dangerous situations.

Carrying an alarm is not going to save you in many situations where you are perceived as a victim.

Disabling an attacker is, no matter what injuries you inflict on them.

Kneeing a man in the groin is not very effective, it takes time and is easily blocked.

Dislocating his kneecap is much more effective and not something to be expected.

It is incredibly sad that we have to do such things, but such is life.

I would not want to be the man who attacked my sisters, my daughter or my ex employees.

They are going to get hurt and I am quite proud of that.

Re: Gutters and Cobblestones

No longer as a general rule when outside of my home.