Gerald D'Cunha

  “Manners are a sensitive awareness of feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, No matter what fork you use.” Emily Post   A young lady – let me name her Shyla* --   messaged me the other day (in my FB inbox): “Do you take (spoken) English classes?” I replied: “Hello Shyla, yes, I do. Can you please share your number, so that we can discuss about it. Regards.” After three days, today, I saw the response: “93……10” I called Shyla… “Hello Shyla, this is Gerry Sir,” I said. “Yes?” was her response. “You had enquired about the spoken English, right?” I reminded her. “Yes, tell me,” she said with the same deadpan tone. “Yes, Sir… Please tell me (Provide me the information/Give me the details)”… I asserted, knowing very well – It’s now or never! “Yes Sir… I want to be fluent in English… I am trying for a better job in an MNC,” she opened up. “That’s better, Shyla… If you want to be fluent in English, you don’t need me… S...

When I am attending a Mass inside a church, I can not behave the way I do while watching an IPL match in a stadium. Likewise, I cannot talk with my son’ college Dean as I do with my next-door neighbor… Nor, can I eat in a fine restaurant the way I do in my house.  There is the social decorum… the convention... the unwritten code of conduct, which demands me to behave at a certain place in a certain manner. So, these are  Manners and Etiquette. Maybe, plain common sense! “May I come in sir?”  “Excuse me.” “Thank you.” “I am sorry.” “My pleasure.” “It is alright.” Well, why do we keep saying these phrases? When did we learn them? Who had taught them to us? Why do we need to compliment others? Why do we need to thank for every compliment that we receive? Why should we be careful when we criticize others? And, how should we deal with when we receive criticism? Why should I keep pace with othe...