BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Etiquette Pushing Buttons

It's absurd how some people behave and think they are being strong, cool or funny when they are really just being rude.

This may not be under manners because emplyees at most places are taught to do this but...
Bank clerks who call me by my first name.

I agree this is a breach of etiquette. Some companies encourage such behavior by their employees in a misguided attempt to intill a friend or family type rapport with their clients/customers. Personally I consider it a lowering of the Etiquette Standard. If you find it offensive you may politely tell them you prefer being called Ms/Mrs/Miss Houghton.

mm but would they not think your the one who is rude or impolict?

Would rather be called by my name than many of the alternatives??

The one I agree with the most, grocery check out clerks. "When's your break? I haven't gotten one yet. Did you see that Joe came in late again today, I need to take my break or I'm not going to get one, again." They aren't speaking to me, I'm just the one who's going to "graciously" pay them $100+ at the end of the ordeal. And the latest grocery store adventure, the box boy who loaded my groceries into my car and left his cart behind my car to go visit friends in the parking lot. I had to get back out of my car and move his carts, what the??

Teenage weekend supervisors. You know the ones at the mall. I would much rather have the bank clerk acknowledge my existence than the clerk that doesn't say a word to me.

People who never say thank you. Those times when you go out of your way to help and they just expect it, after all, it's all about them.

We had a sales rep calling on us, who tried to employ this tactic..
"Well, you see, Alex.... may I call you Alex?" and he smiled broadly.
I, smiling equally broadly, replied sweetly,
"No, I hardly know you. You may call me Mrs Price." (I've since divorced, but that's irrelevant....)
He completely lost his way. That reply was so unexpected to him, and he was so totally unprepared, that he proceeded, over the NEXT 4 HOURS (!) to pour his heart and life-story out to me, all his tales of woe and problems, that, well, he basically lost the sale. We never did go for the fully-fitted bathroom he was trying to sell us.

Great topics for consideration. Regarding driving etiquette, I've covered crosswalks but not parking lots. I'll put that on my "to do" list.