Is polite dead?

This is not a triathlon post but something that has been on my heart for a while. I feel compelled to put these thoughts out there into the online world. I promise tomorrow a much funnier post. I will admit its already done and I stole the link.

I have an interesting situation to share. I get conflicting responses from people. I was raised in a military household and was taught to be polite to everyone in a society where politeness has taken a back seat to selfishness. My parents raised me to have principles and that all people have value. I don’t look down at someone because I have more digits in my paycheck than them. I tip well, I try to make service people laugh because they are under appreciated. I don't judge books by the cover.

I was in a Starbucks the other day where I know the manager. When I got up to the counter I said, “Hi Darlin’ how are you?” She smiled, and took my order as we caught up on a weeks worth of life. After I called her ‘Darlin’’, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman roll her eyes as if I was using a derogatory term.

That made me think of when I was at an expo. I ordered a turkey sandwich from a college coed working a food cart and as she was asking me what I wanted on it I replied to her as I do with most people, with repect. “Yes Ma’am or No Ma’am.” After one response she says, “Ma’am?” as if she was too young to be called that and I just replied with "Please and Thank you’s," from then on.

Do you see the differences in those two stories? For the record I also use ‘Sir’ in place of Ma’am for men and if a man is noticibily younger than me I usually refer to them as 'brother' as in, "Thank's for the change brother."

I think the days of chivalry are over. Not that people won't be chivalrous, but the recipent dosen't care. People get so caught up in their head about being PC or recognized as someone of value, that when they are given the value they deserve they don't recongize it. I don’t think all women or men deserve to be treated equally but all people should be equally treated. If I don’t know you I will assume you’re a good person until you prove me wrong and it doesn’t take long. Treat them as you want them to treat you until you realize your being abused then you sever emotion, not compassion or sympathy.

Another example, I hold the door open for women. Sometimes I hold it when they are several yards away. For the most part they walk through the door and thank me. Occasionally they see me holding the door, walk through the door and say nothing, like its expected. Sometimes they see me hold the door open and that I am holding it for several seconds yet they open the other door and walk through that instead.

Its situations like that make me want to not be a nice person but say, “Me and mine and F the rest of you.” But that’s not the way I was raised. I just say, “God Bless” and go on my way. See I used to get mad at that kind of stuff but I find its hard to be mad and flip people off when you say those two words.

God Bless.