― Oscar Wilde
In today's New York Times, there was an interesting
article about manners and flying. It
mentioned bare feet on planes as an etiquette gaffe.
We live in a complicated
world of human connections and interactions.
On the one hand, we have become increasingly more connected. I marveled last summer at the ability to
"FaceTime" with friends in China.
There they were on an iPad screen available for our viewing and
communicating pleasure. And yet on the
other hand, we create our own personal worlds while we are with other people. For example, we can have numerous silent
conversations via text or e-mail while in the presence of others. Recently, I was in the car with my husband --
not talking to him, but engaged in three different conversations via text with
friends.
Regardless of
the why -- although I can't help thinking that it is in part due to
distraction, we sometimes seem to forget our surroundings. We have all listened to too-loud, one-sided
mobile phone conversations in public places or been subjected to cigarette or
cigar smoke we would prefer to avoid. There is kindness in taking a look around and remembering where we are long
enough to consider how our actions might affect others.
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