Manners maketh the man – and the City

London Event Reviews by May B

This morning a frail old man gestured that I should take a newly vacated seat on the tube – despite my comparative youth and fitness. As I was getting off at the next stop, I thanked him politely but declined and we swapped smiles. Manners – and chivalry – like this make me smile. And my day started with a smile rather than a grimace.

Call me old fashioned, but good manners go a long way. They were designed to ease the hustle and bustle of day to day social interaction and to show consideration for others. As well as prompting a slight smile at the thoughtfulness of others, maybe manners could do more in promoting social, maybe even racial harmony.
If we all followed a few simple rules whilst commuting into London and travelling around it, not only would we all feel better but more positive interactions would be promoted for the benefit of all. I’m not asking everyone to read Debrett’s (although wouldn’t that be fantastic!?) but it might be nice for the transport systems to use some of the spare capacity on their continually rotating signs to promote some good manners. Like:

a) Offer your seat – without being asked - to someone who is pregnant or older or injured in some way, or who looks like they are about to faint. And not just those seats marked for this purpose - any seat.

b) Turn your ipods (or voice) down to a level that doesn’t disturb those around you. If you need to check the volume, then do so.

c) Wait for the poor people who have stood up for the entire journey to get off the train or tube before you try to barge past them now that you are refreshed from your pleasant snooze.

d) Keep your arms within your seat space allocation rather than stretching into the poor person next to you. If necessary, buy a smaller newspaper than your usual broadsheet if you don’t seem to be able to fold the damn thing to do this.

e) Honour the queue. Stand in line. No excuses. You may be in a hurry. And the bus may have stopped a little way away from the bus stop. But don’t barge past people who have been waiting patiently – sometimes for a long time. And – like the announcements say – wait for others to disembark before you try to get on. Or are you plain stupid?

f) Zippering at escalators. The time honoured ritual of allowing one person from each side to move forward - rather than an unflattering free for all.

g) Back pack awareness. If you have a large package on your back or in your arms, be aware of the extent to which it is bashing into other people. This is particularly important when you are standing and your back pack or brief case is smashing the seated person in the face causing an urgent need for dental surgery.

h) Cut the crap conversations. Now you might think that your conversation about this evening's dinner or the love life of a secretary in your office is exciting but we don't want to hear it. What is wrong with "I'd love to chat but I am on a train right now - can I call you later?" to show consideration for your fellow travellers?

For extra smiles, you can signal for others to go before you while getting on and off vehicles. Or you can offer to help people put things on or off overhead racks. And harassed mums ALWAYS welcome help getting up and down stairs.

I also think it would be a good idea if we created some form of “Who’s the most polite” awards – is it those people arriving at Waterloo from Twickenham, or those travelling on the Central Line from Epping, or perhaps those taking the 501 bus from London Bridge.

As Mr Eastwood would say, come on Londoners - make my day!

Posted Date
Jan 28, 2008 in London Event Reviews by May B by May B