The last 2 RSLG efforts dealt with 2 basic human necessities: Eating and Living Together. Obviously food is essential, and is the focus of our most basic survival. instincts as well as being a social binder, and often a personal obsession for many – but it’s also becoming clearer that human interaction is becoming more and more of a […]
Episode 53: Etiquette
Just before our brainstorming session on etiquette, Guest Editor Joanne Kahan sent me an email that read “Pretty sure etiquette is dying a slow death. Perhaps, we should do a Memorial”. That’s when I realized we were in for an interesting afternoon! Joining Joanne at The Winchester, a great new spot in Woodbridge, were our “Memorial” participants: architect (and […]
What are some of the best ways to express condolences?
This question is a direct result of the loss of Steve Jobs this week. I thought about how sad I was that he was gone, and realized that my pain was noting compared to the grief being suffered by his family and close friends. Which inspired this question; What are some of the best ways to […]
When you greet someone: handshake, hug, or kiss?
One of the leading causes of awkwardness these days seems to be the art of figuring out what’s appropriate – especially if you hadn’t been thinking about the subject just before you encounter someone. I’ve noticed recently that right before I greet a member of the opposite sex, my brain is forced into overdrive to […]
Where (and when) is it absolutely NOT appropriate to use your cell phone?
This is a question that arose from Joanne Kahan’s pitch about the noise that comes from people wearing headphones in public places. This, in turn, let to a conversation about what seems to be a need, on the part of many, to control the “noise” of everyday living – by creating their own! Cellphone use […]
How should we teach our children good manners?
Guest editor (and Yale soccer coach) Brian Tomkins raised this issue in the Glenwood episode, having witnessed ill mannered kids taking more than one hot dog in a long line at a camp lunch this summer. The simple answer, of course, is for parents to model considerate behavior themselves: but based on the seemingly “epidemic” […]
Are there rules for clothing any more?
“…and what are they?” wonders guest editor and New York Times columnist Mark Oppenheimer. (I became a huge fan of Mark’s when he wrote “It’s a Wonderful Block“. about the Westville section of New Haven.) In particular, Mark wanted to discuss the proper attire for men at weddings these days. (Mark doesn’t feel the Oakleys-over-the-baseball-cap look […]