Practical Etiquette, Period 3, Class #1 - Thursday, May 14th

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

"Good morning," Lizzy said, clasping her hands behind her back and telling herself quite firmly not to be nervous. "My name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and I'm to be your teacher on the subject of Practical Etiquette."

"To answer what is likely to be the first question, I'd like to give my definition of practical etiquette. Fear not; there will be no sudden quizzes on the proper form of address for a Bishop as compared to a Duke. Instead, we will be focusing on the larger points. Many of us are from greatly different backgrounds; however, much of civil society is universal. My hope is that, once you have completed this class, you will be sufficiently able to compose yourself in any situation presented to you. This includes situations for which one has no advance knowledge, such as when one finds one's self on an unknown island, in a completely unexpected world." As, perhaps, many of them had done just this week.

"This class will teach the generalities. What to attempt, what to avoid, what one should never, ever raise in polite conversation. How to detect subtle cues from one's environment. How to adapt one's self just enough not to raise any undue eyebrows.

"We will start this week with introductions and greetings. In many cultures, when you are introduced to someone, you should bow your head as a sign of respect. Even lowering it for a brief nod will suffice, in some circumstances, though one must always show more deference to royalty or heads of state. One should state one's name, and note that one is pleased to make the acquaintance, even if one is not. Societies in my time would ask that a lady offer her hand to a gentleman to receive a kiss on the knuckles, while gentleman between themselves would shake hands. Modern society has embraced the handshake, and so shall we. Your handshake should be firm, polite, and brief. Never give someone a limp, dead hand; nor should you crush the other person's fingers in your own. Hold the other person's eyes while shaking their hand, that they know they are fully occupying your attention.

"While shaking the person's hand, you might feel moved to compliment the person. A word of caution is required here. If one is introduced to the hostess, and compliments her lovely eyes, said hostess might presume one is expressing romantic interest. This may cause unwelcome entanglements, or give offense to her spouse if she has one. Keep compliments detached from the person you are meeting him or herself. Telling one she has a lovely necklace is far more acceptable than mentioning any part of her person; thanking her for the invitation, or expressing your delight at the decor of her home are also quite safe grounds.

"Now." She smiled at all of them. "I would like each of you to stand and introduce yourselves. Tell us your name, your interests, and why you have chosen this class. Once we have all done so, I would like for you to mingle with one another, shaking hands and expressing polite compliments to one another. Does that sound acceptable?

"If there are questions, or if you should like to assist me in teaching this course, please do see me after class. And the lovely Miss Watson is available to you, as well, as she has been assigned as a teaching aide for this course." Miss Bennet had not actually met Miss Watson, but she had received a letter to that effect, and chose to believe it. She would hope that Fandom was not simply amusing itself at her expense once more. Instead, she pointed towards one student with an easy smile. "Would you begin for us?"

Comments

Mingling [ET-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Approach another student. Offer your hand and your name. Give him or her a polite compliment -- not anything rude or possibly outré. Engage in pleasant small talk, then move on to another student.

Unlike the Lecture thread, conversation is encouraged here, so please, have at it.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[future_sandworm]

Leto studied the people in the class, consiering who to approach.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela raised an eyebrow at Leto. She was pretty sure he had the etiquette thing down quite well.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Hi, I'm Leda." she introduced, holding out her hand. She couldn't think of any compliments without knowing who the hell this guy was. They weren't supposed to remark on one's appearance after all.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes held out her hand. "Hello, Leto. I'm quite pleased to make your acquaintance."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[oops-mbad.livejournal.com]

Diana stood off to the side, trying to appear as unapproachable as possible.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

Worf approached the girl with a scowl. "You are ignoring the parameters for this exercise."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"Hello, Diana," Agnes greeted her, offering a hand. "I do believe we're in the same cabin together."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

Worf did not like the idea of mingling however an assignment was an assignment.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan hadn't talked to Worf in a while, so she approached him.

"Hi, Worf, how are you today?" she asked, politely offering her hand as instructed.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

This guy looked interesting. "Hi, I'm Leda." she held out her hand. "I'm a bit of an Alien too I guess."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes smiled at Worf and held out her hand. "Hello, Worf. I think you're quite right -- you always have such a polite and sweet disposition."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

. . . ahahaha, like Katchoo was approaching anyone? Katchoo favored the "cross your arms and glare fit to reduce a classic Chrysler to molten slag" technique.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[future_sandworm]

Her attitude would make the exercise so much more interesting, Leto decided. He approached Katchoo and held out his hand. "I believe we have met before, but I don't think we ever introduced ourselves. I am Leto Atreides."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela rolled her eyes at Katchoo in something like a sympathetic manner. "You didn't sign up for this either, huh?" She didn't bother with the handshake thing.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes smiled at her sweetly and innocently, and tried to ignore the voice in the back of her head screaming OMG I want to BE you!!!.

"Hello, Katina. You know, if you keep your arms crossed, you won't be able to shake hands with anyone."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela didn't, quite, employ stand-off-ish body language. She stood up straight in a way that only served to highlight how skinny she was, and looked around. Handshakes... she could do handshakes.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[glacial_queen]

Karla wandered over. "Hello," she said, extended her hand. "I'm Karla. I think we have Spy Games together." Karla was quite pleased with herself: she'd totally mastered this handshake thing. Sure, it wasn't advanced Craft or anything, but right now, she would take her victories as she found them.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes had a big grin for Triela, and a hand ready to shake. "Hello! It's a pleasure to see you again. Are you running your club again this summer?"

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

This didn't seem so bad. Joan looked around and tried to decide which classmates to approach.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes smiled and offered a hand. "Hello, Joan."

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda stood like the lady her mother always tried to make her be. Which looked a little incongruous with her street kid clothes and punk haircut.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes smiled and offered a hand. "Hello, The Scent of Heather One Dewey Dawn in April of the House Where Two Queens Fell. Are you new to Fandom?"

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Well, hanging out against the wall and listening wasn't going to work HERE. Agnes smiled at her fellow students and tried her best to seem approachable.

Re: Mingling [ET-1]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

Yakko was mingling like crazy.

Which is to say that he was shaking the hands of people who didn't exist. "How do you do?" he asked one. "And how about you? Do you know how the last guy was doing? HELLOOOOOO NURSE! How do you do? That's a firm handshake. How do you do?"