Public etiquette no longer seems to exist. We desperately need it. When people are rude to each other then the rude person and the rudee both lose self esteem. Self esteem is important to all people's mental and social health. So why don't we teach etiquette in school?

Here a few rules to get started with your children.

If you open it close it.

If you borrow it, return it in the same condition you borrowed it or replace it.

Whatever your moral standards don't let someone else convince you to violate them.

Recognize personal space and don't violate it without permission.

Keep all tones of all carry along devices low.

When you are instructed to turn off your devices, do it.

When you are receiving a call leave the room we don't want to hear your grocery list or your fight with your significant other.

The guy with the biggest load gets the right of way.

Male or female if the hands are full open the door for them.

Don't talk loud. People think loud talkers are stupid.

Don't talk so softly that your neighbor can't hear your discussion. You will get over looked.

If you get there first, do your business and get out of the way of the next guy.

If you see a sign that says don't then don't.

In a world that is so fast moving and inconsiderate of human's needs the humans can change the way the world works if they follow their own conscience and, yes, the Golden Rule. Do onto others what you would have them do onto you.

The worst place for inconsiderate people to congregate is the grocery store. The management has stuffed the store with all kinds of goodies and left little room for traffic and there is always one or two of those people who stop in the middle of the aisle and walk several feet to read a box or can and keeping traffic stopped. If you say something like "Excuse me," they look at you with a stare that really says, 'Who do you think you are'. Or they ignore you. Then there are the people who change their minds and instead of returning the product to its shelf they just dump it on the next shelf they happen to be near or at the checkout counter. Oh and the checkout counter, why is it that people are so surprised to find when they line up at the checkout counter that the clerk might actually expect them to pay for their purchases. At least that's the way it appears. While waiting in line why aren't they writing out their checks as far as they can and finding their frequent purchaser card? Instead, they are reading the rag sheets that pretend to be news papers. Honestly, who believes that aliens impregnated anybody? Get ready to pay people.

The most important thing to remember is how the other guy feels if he is subjected to your behavior. How would the woman behind me feel if I fumbled through my purse for two minutes while her baby is screaming from frustration and loss of nap time? How would the guy waiting at the gas pump feel if I filled up and then spent ten minutes in the store while he sat there waiting for the spot I'm sitting in?

Let's consider others rather than keeping the motto: Do onto others before they do unto you. It doesn't serve anyone.

Learn more about this author, Ann Dennis.
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