Recognizing Bad Manners: 16 Everyday Behaviors to Avoid

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Etiquette refers to behaving a certain way in polite society—ways that don’t make others turn their heads and gawk at you or wonder who raised (or didn’t raise) you. Saying thank you, chewing with your mouth closed, greeting one another, and showing respect all point to a well-mannered individual. So, what points to an ill-mannered person?

Chewing With Mouth Open

No one wants to see the chewed-up portion of one’s lunch or dinner during a dining experience. Chewing or talking with your mouth open indicates a lack of manners.

Learning to chew with a closed mouth is one of the first manners a child learns. Refusing to follow this simple rule will result in awkward glares and disgusted dining guests. 

Avoiding Gratitude Words

Recently, I met a young woman with no knowledge of gratitude words. She met her boyfriend’s family for the first time, yet avoided thanking them or giving herself a proper introduction.

After her boyfriend’s mom said it was nice to meet her and offered a kind, simple greeting, she blinked at her and looked at her phone. Her baffled boyfriend nudged her shoulder. She, however, did not catch on and continued browsing Instagram.

Belching 

The proper way to belch in North America is to close your mouth, emit the burp into a napkin, or excuse yourself to the bathroom. Releasing a loud belch in public without excusing oneself or covering the gas announces a lack of manners. 

Picture an adult man in a busy restaurant. He’s chowing down on steak and potatoes when a lurching burp travels out of his mouth. Instead of apologizing (we all have our moments), he continues eating his dinner while the guests ogle him down.

Interrupting

Holding your tongue while someone speaks demonstrates unwavering respect and compassion toward the person. Unless you need to tell someone something urgent (in the case of emergencies), your commentary can wait.

Bad-mannered folk love interrupting and cutting off speakers every moment they find. This also shows the interrupter feels their words are more important than the speaker’s, thus proving their elevated ego.

Swearing in Public

Using foul language in public, especially with children and those not fond of that kind of language, illustrates a lack of manners. Voicing obscenities in public places communicates a lack of respect for a civil society.

Few people hope to bring their children or families around those unafraid to utter foul language around others. Many religious groups consider swearing a sin, so save the foul language for applicable scenarios, not in public, where children and people of various backgrounds attempt to coexist.

Bad Phone Usage

Envision a fancy dinner. One complete with candlelit tables illuminating a singular rose atop a marble table. Two people gather for the romantic evening, excited to share the gourmet experience. 

One party stares at their phone while sitting down. The other party waves off that behavior, at first, until the person never removes their gaze from the blue-lit screen. How can one pay full attention while immersed in a screen?

Blatant Hostility

Let’s take the scenario from the previous point. Two people at dinner, one absorbed in their phone and one hoping for a nice date. The person staring at the phone snaps or claps at the waiter, flagging them down with little regard for their humanity. 

The other party watches, horrified. They grow even more terrified by the way the person speaks to the waiter as they exist beneath them because of their profession. Speak to everyone in the same kind tone.

Not Thanking Someone Who Holds the Door Open 

Two parties scurry out of the restaurant at the same time. The first party notices the other people trailing behind, so they pause a moment and hold the door open for them.

The polite response is a simple smile and a thank you, acknowledging the door holder’s kind gesture. Although waiting to walk through a held-open door might stir anxiety or a hurried pace, showcase a smidge of respect and thank them. 

Jumping in the Elevator Before People Exit

Elevator etiquette asks those inside the elevator to exit before those outside of the elevator. Permit the travelers space to depart the elevator before jumping in, preventing them from a safe exit.

Rude elevator riders cram into the busy carriage, knowing others must leave. Polite elevator guests hold the doors open for departing passengers.

Picking Teeth

Picking teeth is a grotesque example of bad manners. Imagine a grown woman opening her pocket mirror, noticing a seed lodged between her front teeth, and pulling out a fork or toothpick to dislodge the food. She pokes and prods at the seed, attempting to remove it and gaining the looks of everyone seated near her. 

The polite alternative involves the woman retreating to the bathroom to examine her mouth or, if she can’t leave the table, trying to attend to her issue behind her napkin.

Not Cleaning Up After Oneself

Refusing to clean up after oneself signifies elitism. Someone who thinks others must pick up their scraps or believes their superiority requires another person to deal with their leftovers. 

When invited to friend’s houses, they might eat something and leave their dishes scattered, or toss their trash on the ground. In restaurants, they’ll leave a mess on the table, or around the table, supposing a waiter cleans up their slob. 

Disrespecting Professions

Have you ever encountered a being who radiated happiness and positivity until you mentioned your progress? Say they work as a lawyer or a doctor in a huge company. You exchange names and niceties and introduce yourself as a school teacher.

Their demeanor shifts, their eyebrows furl, and you’ve transformed from a pleasant human into a worthless, subordinate person they mustn’t speak with. 

Tantrums

Besides toddlers, the best example of a tantrum-throwing, bad-mannered person is Dandy Mott from American Horror Story. When Dandy’s plans unravel, or an event turns out differently than expected, he screeches, cries, and blames everyone but himself. 

Polite society and well-adjusted adults do not throw temper tantrums. Instead, they learn to communicate their feelings and cope with ever-changing circumstances in daily life. 

Arriving Late

Jobs ask employees to show up on time according to their schedule. This behavior exemplifies a worker’s respect and gratitude toward their job by understanding the basic element of punctuality. 

Arriving late with no explanation exemplifies disrespect toward authority and a lack of care. Punctual people regard others’ time as crucial. They show up when expected, causing others to trust and view them as polite people.

Not Dressing for the Occasion

Would you wear a short skirt and a crop top to a professional business presentation in front of your boss’ boss? No. Maybe that attire suits a nightclub but not a fancy demonstration or a five-star dinner. 

Verse yourself on dress codes and attire preferences prior to arriving in an inappropriate outfit. Understand that most places warrant their guests to arrive in suitable clothing and combed hair. Surprisingly, many  people attend fancy events without combing their snarls.

Personal Space

Personal space means strangers need to remain at least 18 inches away from other strangers. Friends, family members, and people in relationships apply different rules for personal space. 

Never strive for a medal as someone who invades personal space. Always give others a bubble and the room to exist without knocking into you if they back up.

Featured Image Credit: Fizkes and Shutterstock.