Practical Etiquette, Period 3, Class #3 - Thursday, May 28th

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

"There is a list," Miss Bennet said, "of the Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. It is purportedly a schoolroom exercise by one George Washington. Given that Mr. Washington is an historical figure far better known for political matters, one assumes the attribution is apocryphal. Nevertheless, it's an interesting list, regardless how dubious its source, and one I felt it worth our while to look over."

She passed out copies of the list, adding, "Do please excuse the spelling; it is either authentic to the time, or an attempt to mimic such.

"The first rule seems elegant enough; Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present. From there, second, we have When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usualy Discovered. Third? Shew Nothing to your Friend that may affright him. Three rules in, and we've said so far that we should respect our company, not startle them unduly, and try not to indulge any itches in unmentionable locations. There, the list seems quite reasonable, thus far.

Miss Bennet leaned back agains her desk. "Four: In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet. Fifth: If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkercheif or Hand before your face and turn aside. And sixth: Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop. And here we notice that this list seems a touch uneven. I would hardly count drumming one's fingers as severe an imposition as falling asleep while another is speaking to you.

"This list seems to comprise a few different concepts. For one, there are the rules that simply state that it is good manners to treat others with dignity and respect -- as in rule eight, which asks that newcomers be welcomed into an activity. Another group seems to be more situational; in some societies, it may not be considered rude to scratch one's itches, or to, as rule seven notes, 'leave one's chamber half-dressed.' And of the situational notes, some of them seem particularly pendantic; rule nine considers it rude to warm one's hands before a fire, and ten asks that one never cross one's ankles.

"We hardly have time to cover this full list in class -- nor am I suggesting that all of these rules fit what any of you should know for etiquette, especially as we have taken a more practical approach this term. But there are rules here that are helpful, amidst the highly specific, situational ones. And that is where all of you come in."

"For today's lesson, I am breaking you up into pairs. Each pair will be assigned a section of 10 of these rules. Read over all ten, together, and find one that you feel is a good, practical rule that we should discuss in class -- and one that you feel is either nonsensical, or of far lesser importance. And then, we will discuss our findings."

Miss Bennet smiled at her students. "And if you find you cannot make the least sense of what the rule is stating, you may, of course, ask. Our mysterious author, Mr. Washington or not, has an odd way with words. Regardless: let us begin."

Comments

Pair Off and Receive a Section of Rules [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

The RNG has spoken; please hold for your randomized pairings!

Pair Off: Katina Choovanski and Leda [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

You have been assigned Rules 11 through 20.

Re: Pair Off: Katina Choovanski and Leda [ET-3]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Well, I think the word bedew needs to make a comeback. But what the hell is up with keep not your lips too open or too close?"

Pair Off: Leto Atreides and Karla di Glacia [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

You have been assigned Rules 21 through 30.

Re: Pair Off: Leto Atreides and Karla di Glacia [ET-3]

[future_sandworm]

Leto looked at Karla, curious what her opinion would be. "What do you think?" he asked.

Re: Pair Off: Leto Atreides and Karla di Glacia [ET-3]

[glacial_queen]

Karla jerked away, keeping her distance. "What do I...what?" she asked, proving that whatever she was thinking about, it wasn't the assignment. She kept darting frightened glances at Leto.

Re: Pair Off: Leto Atreides and Karla di Glacia [ET-3]

[future_sandworm]

He frowned a little, leaning closer. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.

Pair Off: Worf and Rose Hathaway [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

You have been assigned Rules 31 through 40.

Re: Pair Off: Worf and Rose Hathaway [ET-3]

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

Worf frowned as he looked over the rules. "What language is this?" he demanded to know.

And yes. He still had the Barbie doll.

Re: Pair Off: Worf and Rose Hathaway [ET-3]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"English," Rose said, making a face. "Really old, crappy English."

Rose totally didn't have her evidence bag with her. Oops.

Re: Pair Off: Worf and Rose Hathaway [ET-3]

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

"It makes little sense to me," Worf grumbled as he looked over the list. "Ah. Here. Number thirty five. 'Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.' It will be simplest to convey."

Pair Off: Edmund Pevensie and Joan Girardi [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

You have been assigned Rules 41 to 50.

Re: Pair Off: Edmund Pevensie and Joan Girardi [ET-3]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund walked over to Joan if she was there! and sat down. "No offence to your former President, but his English needs some work."

Re: Pair Off: Edmund Pevensie and Joan Girardi [ET-3]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan chuckled. "He was way better than the most recent one."

Re: Pair Off: Edmund Pevensie and Joan Girardi [ET-3]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"The one on YouTube?" He'd seen many things he never wanted to see on YouTube.

Pair Off: Agnes Nitt and Diana Hansen [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

You have been assigned Rules 51 to 60.

Re: Pair Off: Agnes Nitt and Diana Hansen [ET-3]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes nodded at Diana. "Well, these rules appear to be about three-quarters common sense and one quarter absurd stuffiness, that's for sure."

Re: Pair Off: Agnes Nitt and Diana Hansen [ET-3]

[oops-mbad.livejournal.com]

"I approve of one and yawn at the other." Diana informed her.

Pair Off: Sookie Stackhouse and Yakko Warner [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

You have been assigned Rules 61 to 70.

Re: Pair Off: Sookie Stackhouse and Yakko Warner [ET-3]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

Until his partner found him, Yakko was just going to milk a cow on home plate from a baseball field with a smiley face drawn on it.

Look, don't ask where he got the cow or the plate. "I know it's against the rules, but sometimes I can't help but udder a frivolous base thing."

Rule 61.

Re: Pair Off: Sookie Stackhouse and Yakko Warner [ET-3]

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, it didn't take Sookie long to find him at all.

Imagine that.

"...where did you find a cow?" Priorities.

Re: Pair Off: Sookie Stackhouse and Yakko Warner [ET-3]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

"I won it in a contest," Yakko bragged, shoving it under the desk, where it seemed to disappear.

Rule 63.

Pair Off: G. M. Van Helsing and Triela [ET-3]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

You have been assigned Rules 71 to 80.

Re: Pair Off: G. M. Van Helsing and Triela [ET-3]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela was too mentally exhausted to look around her her partner. She just sort of sat in her seat staring at the paper in front of her without really seeing it.a

Re: Pair Off: G. M. Van Helsing and Triela [ET-3]

[i_vanquish_evil]

Van Helsing is grouchy about reading 'rules' for anything (he's had to learn far too many), but some of these are amusing, others are just downright silly. Then there's rule 75, which he couldn't begin to decipher if he had a translation key.

"Why'd we get all the ones about discussions and not revealing secrets?"