24 Jun
Jacqueline Recommends The Civility Solution by P.M. Forni
Have you ever found yourself confronted with rudeness and didn’t know how to respond? If so, you’ll be interested in knowing that my friend P.M. Forni has just published a book that I think you will find extremely useful. From the intrusive cell-phone user who holds loud conversations in public to the hostile highway driver who cuts one off with a quick swerve of his car, politeness seems to be on a downward spiral, surprising us at every turn. Rudeness begets rudeness, and in Dr. Forni’s new book, The Civility Solution, you see what to do when confronted with bad behavior by being assertive as well as civil. In more than one hundred different solutions, we see how to break the rudeness cycle by responding to a variety of confrontations, from bullying to rude Internet behavior or the hurtful words of an insensitive family member.
Dr. Forni is an award-winning professor at Johns Hopkins University and his book, The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude, is in stores now. I recommend it highly! His previous book, Choosing Civility (2002) has sold more than a hundred thousand copies.
To order The Civility Solution, go to: http://www.amazon.com/Civility-Solution-What-When-People/dp/0312368496/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214334979&sr=8-1
How to Be a Great Roommate
By: Jorie Scholnik, Guest Blogger
Summer sessions for incoming college freshman are about to begin and there are the usual nerves about getting adjusted to the campus, doing laundry on your own and meeting new friends. For many students, this may not be the first time you will be living away from home, but the first time you will have to endure living with a roommate. There are ways to make the merging of two different people and lifestyles go a little smoother. Here are a few tips to avoid being labeled, “The Roommate from Hell” years down the road:
Be aware of your roommate’s hours. If your roommate prefers to go to bed before you do or has to wake up for an early class every day, respect his/her schedule. Coming home while talking on your cell phone at 2am or screaming to your friends down the hall when your roommate needs to wake up in three hours won’t be appreciated.
Always ask before borrowing. Some people don’t like to share food, clothing, household appliances or office supplies. At the beginning of the semester, sit down together and discuss what you intend to share. Even if your roommate said it was okay to share something at the beginning of the semester, always ask just to be courteous.
Be mindful of your roommate’s study habits. Just because you can concentrate with your music and television on, a lot of people prefer to study in silence. A set of headphones is a great investment because your roommate can study in silence while you enjoy listening to music or television.
Keep shared areas clean. You don’t have your mom picking up after you any more so the way you keep your room is your decision. However, shared areas should always be kept clean out of respect for others. Don’t expect your roommate to pick up your clothes, clean your dishes or watch your food mold.
Avoid strong scents. A lot of people are sensitive to smells or have allergies so avoid strong perfumes or eating foods in the room with a potentially foul odor. It can be extremely uncomfortable to live in an area that irritates your sense of smell.
Be respectful of any religious or cultural differences. Everyone grows up in households with different religious and cultural views. Try to avoid passing judgment on your roommate’s different views or cultural upbringing as it might offend him/her.
Jorie Scholnik graduated with honors from the University of Florida in May 2008 with a B.S. in Public Relations and a B.S. in Psychology. In the Fall, she plans to continue her education at the University of Florida in the M.Ed./Ed.S. program in Mental Health and Marriage and Family Counseling. Over the past four years, she has had numerous roommate experiences in both dormitories and off-campus apartments. She has been interning seasonally at The Protocol School of Palm Beach since June 2006.
Mind Your Office Refrigerator Etiquette
According to a survey by executive job site TheLadders.com, the worst office faux pas is someone eating someone else’s food from the communal refrigerator. Office workers are very protective of their lunch. If it’s not yours, then leave it alone. I once heard a story about a person who took someone’s salad out of the office refrigerator, ate half of it, and then put it back in the refrigerator for the owner to eat. What nerve!
I recommend that the office refrigerator be completely cleaned out every Friday. Yes, and I do mean everything must go! Otherwise, that week-old tuna fish sandwich will smell much worse than it did when the owner originally placed it in the refrigerator.
Furthermore, people don’t like to see their lunch mashed, mangled, pushed around or treated disgracefully as a result of another worker’s general lack of office refrigerator etiquette. Please be kind to your coworker’s lunch when placing your own in the fridge. If the fridge is crowded, then instead of shoving aside everyone else’s food, try putting some of your great organizational skills to use and gently rearrange some things. Chances are you’ll find some room and everyone’s lunch will still be able to share space in relative harmony.
Obama puts popularity in the "pound."
There’s some good news for all you “germ-a-phobes” who don’t like to shake hands. It’s called the hand pound or “pound” for short. And it has been endorsed by Barack Obama.
When Obama captured the Democratic nomination last Tuesday night, he did more than just hug and kiss his devoted wife, Michelle. He affectionately gave her the “pound,” which I think is kind of cool. This handshake, also known as the fist bump, is formed when you clinch your fist and tap knuckles with another person. It is generally used when someone does something good. So go ahead and bump away! You can tell others that an etiquette expert told you it was politically correct!