Letter to the Editor
Common courtesies
Published Saturday, May 24, 2008
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To the editor:
I recently had the misfortune of taking a family member to a medical appointment and being subjected to the waiting room. I usually have no problem waiting. ... I tend to be somewhat patient and fairly laid-back.
The doctor’s office was clean and bright, with a welcoming staff. What sent me over the edge on this sunny day was the idiot factory I was sharing the waiting room with.
A lady came in wearing so much perfume that my eyes began to swell shut, and I couldn’t help but gag a few times. She wasn’t even sitting that close to me. I am not super-sensitive to scents, but this was horrible. Not only was she olfactorily offensive, this lady sat down and proceeded to play with her cell phone. Without turning the sound off. The entire waiting room was forced to listen to her “beep, beep, beep” every time she pressed a button on the thing. I’m no techie genius, but even I can figure out how to turn the button-beeps off on my cell phone.
I would have moved further away from “smell-o-vision-phone-lady” but lo and behold, in walks a loud lady with her mother (whom I am sure is embarrassed every day she spends with her kin) who started loudly complaining about the lack of coffee and then took several calls on her cell phone, but only after a totally obnoxious version of “The Entertainer” played for a near eternity, at top volume. Maybe she had a hearing problem or something, but I think the boom-box ringtone and the yelling into the phone would have been more appropriate somewhere else ... like outside the waiting room.
So each side of the waiting room was monopolized by an idiot, I’m sitting there waiting for my family member ... wondering what in the heck ever happened to manners. Yikes.
Fairbanks is a community that is capable of breathtaking acts of kindness. I love that about our town. Can’t we at least try to keep the small common courtesy alive as well? I hope that isn’t to much to ask.
Community Discussion
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Sounds like you don't get out much.
Common courtesy has left way too many,
this is a different generation.
Toughen up and take it in stride or it will drag you down,
YOU don't have to be like that.
What I miss is a "thank you" now and then.
"Please" has gone somewheres?
Yes, toughen up only to stand up and tell those idiots exactly what is offensive. If they are "allowed' to continue to be offensive they always will. That's what's wrong with us today - WE allow these idiots to walk the earth. If I was that unaware of my disrespectfulness I would hope someone would tell me. The office staff should have stepped up too and asked these 2 to turn off cell phones or even leave. Of course these women probably don't even read the paper or even know how to work a PC!
I may be young but I see common courtsey every day! Don't be so pessimistic, instead if it bothers you ask someone politely to go somewhere else to talk, or even compliment someone on something to put them in a better mood! But always make especially sure to thank someone when they do do something courteous, and if their young, thank the parents too!
Ms. Johnson, I obviously don't have to explain to you why I have become the Alaska Curmudgeon.
Too bad some people don't come with a delete button.
Same reason I don't go to the movie theater anymore. I'd like to blame it all on young people, but they usually watch the movie.
What drives me insane is the adult sitting 3-4 seats away from me texting on their cell phone. Maybe they don't realize that the light actually catches your eye when trying to watch the movie.
So, I sit there and get totally angry wondering how rich they must be to spend 9.75 on their ticket, 5.50 on their popcorn, 5.00 on the soda & then not even watch the movie!
A suggestion to Regal cinemas (which is almost run down to the point of building yet another new theater). INstead of all the security people you have out there that really don't appear to be doing anything. Invest in some cell phone detecting technology and make people leave them in their car.
Feels like cell phone have ruined a whole generation.
oh, everyone is so fed up about about people being inconsiderate,yet i rarely see anyone doing anything about this! i see them vent about it and make smart comments but when have you have ever asked someone to to turn down the beeping cellphone because it's a little annoying? or to talk in another room because it's kinda loud? or ask someone to turn of their phone during a movie because it's distracting? step up and say somehting, and if they accomadate you don't be upset because they did it in the first place sincerely thank them because they did what you asked! you complain about rude people but the people who complain and make snide comments need to learn a little about manners too!
do you want some cheese .......
I ran into the same when I was house manager for Anne of Green Gables. This was a live play folks! I announced before the play that all cells were to be turned off and if they had to leave during to play to use the back entrance, the one in front crossed the stage. Then I had late arrivals who was mad because I had them go thru the back. It all boils down to one word "Courtesy".
its not all about cell phones, we just have a general lack of respect for each other. What happened about saying good morning or waiving to the people next door once in a while. Letting someone with less items than you go ahead in line. Holding the door for the person behind you and saying thank you when someone holds the door for you. We need to start with our own sense of respect and lead by example.
I have started making a point to thank parents when I see polite children in public. Most likely they already know they are doing a good thing, but this way they know it is appreciated.
So, princess, now I know who you are... you've thanked me on more than one occasion. You may drop it now.
Imusuallyright, except when you aren't... Apparently I am not the only one practicing the thanking habit. I don't believe I have ever thanked the same family twice & am quite sure of it actually. Besides, I have thanked parents of young children, you have mentioned that yours are grown. As I have good face memory I am careful not to be a bother. Also, there are so few families I have encountered for this to be an issue.
Please do remember that you may not tell me what to say. Instead, return the favor that I give to you.
imusuallyright is so usually wrong...lol
I just want to say that this morning I was the "victim" of a random act of kindness. IT felt great. NP safeway was the scene, the gentleman in front of my wife and I had a large basket of goodies. Possibly his lunch for the week I'm not sure. My wife and I got into line behind him and were going to quietly wait our turn to check out. This Gentleman, instead of making my wife and I wait asked to please go ahead of him since we only had a few items. WE both kindly refused just because he had a few items was no reason to step infront of him. Now this is where I think he was overly nice. Instead of taking our no for a answer he actually said please I have large basket of stuff here and you only have a few things. So we took him up on his "horrible" offer of kindness. As we were checking out this same gentleman asked another lady who also only had a few items to please go in front him to. I guess what I am trying to say is that there still is nice and friendly people in Fairbanks and that is why I like it here. So if you get a chance today to make someones day better, DO IT!! Hold a door, carry a bag of groceries. It only takes a second to show some one why Fairbanks is the golden heart city.
As for Julie, sounds like a bad trip the doctors, we have all had them. just be happy you made it out alive and chalk it up to a new expierence and smile
*peace and Im Outta here*
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