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Tag: Etiquette

  • China Issues “Guide for Civilized Tourism”

    China Issues “Guide for Civilized Tourism”

    In China, general etiquette just became a law, specifically when you’re planning to travel. CNN reports that a massive tourism law went into effect on October 1 that aims to combat the perception of Chinese travelers behaving unpleasantly.

    The law takes effect as the internet and world media circulated a viral story of a Chinese teenager vandalizing an ancient Egyptian artifact with his name.

    The new law is accompanied by a 64-page “Guidebook for Civilized Tourism,” with illustrations, that includes several chapters specifically aimed at Chinese citizens who wish to travel and tour anywhere.

    Although the rules are expected to be followed abroad, they also apply domestically, and target issues like tourist safety, unfair competition, and “forced shopping” excursions in which a travel agency would sell tourists cheap tours while bringing them to specific shopping centers for a commission from the shops.

    Some of the most noteworthy reminders include: “When taking photos in tourist spots, do not fight and be patient. Do not force the others to take a picture with you, nor obstruct the others when they are photographing”, and “Do not occupy the public toilet for a very long time. Do not leave footprints on the toilet seats and flush after use.” The book even featured culturally specific suggestions; how women not wearing earrings in Spain would be perceived as unclothed, for instance.

    Although some of the reminders may seem silly upon first glance, the guide contains other recommendations that could be appropriately applied in any culture: remember to say “please,” “thank you,” it’s not acceptable to cut in a line or queue, and be sure to appropriately tip your server when the restaurant service was good.

    CNN notes that the UN World Tourism Organization has put the number of Chinese nationals travelling abroad will reach 100 million by 2015, and that the Chinese overtook the Americans and Germans as the world’s most exuberant tourism spenders last year by spending a record $102 billion.

    Wang Yanqi, the director of the Research Center of Leisure Economy of China, said in a report that “Price wars were vicious in the past, while the recent rises are a sort of reasonable return to fair competition.”

    Any Chinese tour guides or agencies that are caught breaking the new laws will pay a stiff fine of roughly $49,000.

    [Image via this YouTube video about Chinese Tourists respecting other cultures and learning to behave themselves]

  • Should There Be Etiquette in Social Media?

    Should There Be Etiquette in Social Media?

    Social media has, no doubt, brought about a great deal of benefits for consumers and businesses. At the same time, however, it has had some harmful effects on others. To be clear, the blunders that have occurred through social media should be credited to the user and not the platform; but the fact remains that if the user had exercised proper etiquette, the harmful effect may not have happened.

    Should social media users exercise etiquette or not? What do you think?

    According to Pamela Eyring, who is the President and Director of The Protocol School of Washington, users who are not mindful of etiquette on social networks may quickly run into the negative effects of social media.

    “It’s a great way to advertise and market and build networks of people… but we also have to be careful of pitfalls,” she said.

    With social media, information – both good and bad – gets distributed very quickly. For example, think about how fast word got out about former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

    Some would still argue that social networks would lose their effectiveness if everyone demonstrated restraint. After all, one of the driving forces behind the popularity of social media has been that it has given an equal voice to everyone.

    As Eyring explained to us, there should be a balance. She believes that everyone with an opinion has the right to express it, but that they should consider etiquette when they post.

    “I think there are times when you need to state your opinion clearly… but I think also that it doesn’t need to be nasty,” she said. “You can showcase your disapproval and even anger without being nasty.”

    She believes that etiquette is especially important since the line between personal and professional is continuing to be blurred. Many users are getting laidback about what they post, and for professionals, this could be damaging.

    “Those professionals who want to take their careers to the next step need to be cautious,” said Eyring.

    The Golden Rule that she follows and recommends for others is to think before you post. It’s simple, but those few seconds could save you from having something negative permanently branded to your name.

  • Jackass’ Ryan Dunn Dies, Roger Ebert Slams Him On Twitter

    Too soon, or a harsh dose of truth?

    Just hours after the news broke about the untimely death of Jackass star Ryan Dunn, legendary film critic Roger Ebert called him and his friends out for drunk driving.

    Dunn, who was 34, was driving his Porsche early this morning in West Goshen, PA when he lost control and flew over a guardrail. His car reportedly slammed into a tree and caught fire. There was a passenger in the car who was also killed, although police have been unable to identify the body. According to the police report the car went through about 40 yards of trees before hitting the last one and bursting into flames.

    His last tweet from last night linked to a photo of him drinking with a couple of buddies. That tweet has since been removed from his Twitter feed. Here’s a screen cap of the photo in question –

    This twitpic obviously led to speculation that the horrible crash was due to Dunn being drunk. TMZ reports that one person has said Dunn had three Miller lights and three “girly shots” in a 4 hour period. This is hardly enough to inebriate a grown man. But according to another person, Dunn was “wasted” after drinking heavily. Police have said that speed was most likely a factor in the crash, but there is naturally no way to tell if he was intoxicated yet.

    So news of the drunk driving death of Dunn hit Twitter and he has stayed a trending topic all day. The most high profile person to tweet something controversial about the death was Roger Ebert. He tweeted this a little over an hour ago –

    @ebertchicago
    Roger Ebert    Friends don’t let jackasses drink and drive. 1 hour ago via SocialOomph · powered by @socialditto

    Ouch. Is Ebert’s comment made in poor taste? Or does he have a point? Even if he does have a point, is it simply too soon?

    Many of Ebert’s Twitter followers aren’t happy with the comment. One user says “that was in disgustingly poor taste.” Another tweets “why is this a joke; he is still a person, have some respect.” One simply tweets “You’re an asshole.”

    I happen to love Roger Ebert, who I believe is a national treasure. A statement like the one he made is loaded with intricacies. Sure, drunk driving is dumb and it puts other people’s lives at risk. And another person did die in this accident besides Dunn. But the death is quite tragic and no matter what, he is still a human being with family and friends. Maybe 140 characters isn’t the best place to make a statement on a complicated issue.

    Some of Dunn’s fellow Jackass stars have spoken out about the death. Here’s what they have to say –

    @realjknoxville
    Johnny Knoxville    Today I lost my brother Ryan Dunn. My heart goes out to his family and his beloved Angie. RIP Ryan , I love you buddy. http://say.ly/hUnqQQ 2 hours ago via WhoSay · powered by @socialditto

    @iamweeman
    Jason Weeman Acuna    RYAN DUNN– a super awesome memory was at the J RODY walston & the business show!!! I MISS YOU BUD!! You were alway… http://say.ly/zISqQ7 3 hours ago via WhoSay · powered by @socialditto

    @rickkosick
    Rick Kosick    I’ve been thinking about all the good times I’ve had with Ryan and it’s hard to hold back the tears. I already miss him. RIP Ryan Dunn 54 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @SteveO
    Steve-O    I don’t know what to say, except I love Ryan Dunn and I’m really going to miss him. 1 hour ago via WhoSay · powered by @socialditto

    What do you think about Ebert’s remark? Let us know in the comments.

    Add your condolences to the Ryan Dunn page on FamousDead.com.

    [Image Courtesy TMZ]

  • Happy Birthday To Me (On Facebook)

    Today marks the day that I first drew breath in this beautiful, awful, wonderful, messed-up world of ours. Since I am past the ages where birthdays net you anything important, all I have to look forward to is the cash I’ll get from my family and the booze I’ll get from my friends. Oh, and all of the birthday wishes on Facebook, of course.

    Yes, there is nothing quite like waking up bleary-eyed, dry-mouthed and head-achey to seventy-five (ok, 35) notifications blowing up your Facebook to validate your existence. No matter that only about 5% of those notifications are from people who actually know my birthday – I appreciate it anyways! I know it took at least 15 seconds out of your busy day to log a couple of keystrokes on my behalf, and for that I am grateful.

    Honestly, let’s take a second to think about how much Facebook has changed “the birthday.” Because of Facebook birthday reminders, people are now able to pretend that they actually care about other human beings. It’s phenomenal. Ask yourself: How many friends’ birthdays do you know, as in know for real? Three? Four?

    And good luck trying to throw a surprise party for anyone with Facebook in the mix.

    In light of the momentous occasion that is my day of birth, I’ve decided to compile a do and don’t guide to birthday postings and responses. These are general suggestions that you can use when your birthday and your friends’ birthdays roll around. Here goes.

    Birthday Wall Postings

    DO NOT: Wish me “Happy Birthday.”

    This is incredibly lame. It’s basically the equivalent of you telling me that the sun is shining, or I have a piece of something in my teeth. It’s a fact, I know that it is indeed my birthday. And it’s my birthday, so most likely I’m feeling happier than I am on other days (unless I’m over 40, which I’m not).

    INSTEAD: Try the phrases “Happy Brithday, you ______” (something vulgar) or “Happy Birthday, I can’t believe we survived that time we _______” Make a joke, be creative. Remember, for most people, the Facebook birthday post is the extent of what they’re giving. It is in lieu of a present or a card, so it needs to reflect that you put some thought into it.

    DO NOT: Put this monstrosity on my wall –

    Or this –

    INSTEAD: Please just write something. But if you must visually represent your feelings toward me on my day of birth, go with something like this:

    DO NOT: Post anything on my wall that is not birthday related.

    Dude, don’t ruin my long chain of birthday wishes with something irrelevant and worthless like, “Hey man, I saw your mom in the grocery the other day!”

    INSTEAD: Direct Message, Tweet at me, SMS, call me….the possibilities are endless. Just don’t mess up my birthday feed, jerk.

    DO NOT: Wish me happy birthday on Facebook if I haven’t spoken to you in over 5 years.

    Seriously, you don’t really want to do it – it’s a waste of your time. And it feels hollow to me and I really don’t care. Save us both some grief and skip the post.

    INSTEAD: Write me a real letter. I think something about receiving a handwritten letter would do wonders for rekindling a friendship. Bonus points if you write it in some sort of code.

    DO NOT: Wish me happy birthday via a private message.

    Unlike irrelevant things, I want your birthday wishes plastered on my wall for the world to see. Why? Because if I don’t have enough birthday posts then it looks like I’m uncool and nobody likes me. If only a few people post on my wall, then it looks like I’ve changed my birthday as a joke to fool people. Then everyone else feels skeptical and afraid to post. It’s a big chain reaction that ends up making me look friendless and pitiful.

    INSTEAD: Post on my wall! Two, Three, Ten times if you want – I don’t care. Make me feel loved, Facebook world.

    Birthday Post Responses

    Once I’ve received all of my friends’ well wishes, how should I show my appreciation? Personally, I believe that the person celebrating the birthday should be exempt from response. The best way to thank someone for writing some kind or funny words on your wall on your birthday is to return the favor when their birthday rolls around.

    But if you must respond, here are some proven ways:

    • The all-encompassing thank you – When everything is said and done, simply post a status that generically thanks everyone who wished you happy birthday.  Pro:  Easy, quick and painless.  Con: Feels like a cop-out, disingenuous.
    • Respond to every wall post as a comment under the post – Tell each and every person that wished you well on your wall thank you, right under their post. Pro: You get to thank everyone personally, and it looks like you took the time to acknowledge each and every person individually.  Plus, each friend will receive a notification alerting them to your response.  Con: Well, it will take forever for one.  Plus it looks silly to say “thank you” under each and every post, let’s face it.
    • Thank you posts on your friends’ walls –   Pro: Looks really genuine.  Con: If you do it for everyone, it’s going to take up the majority of your day.  If you do it for a select few, you single them out as more important to you than everyone else.  Drama.
    • Post a photo to your wall of you drunk, possibly wearing a ridiculous hat – This has to be the preferred way to respond if you must respond.  Everyone will see that you are enjoying your birthday, and hopefully they will be happy for you.  Pro: It’s a fun, interesting way to acknowledge everyone who posted on your wall.  It allows you to say thanks, without actually having to say thanks.  Con: You’re drunk, and in a stupid hat.

    So remember, when birthdays happen on Facebook, we are given a chance to connect in ways we couldn’t before the social network existed. But that doesn’t mean that we can take it lightly because it’s on the internet. Make your birthday posts count or don’t even bother. And for God’s sake don’t post a link to any YouTube video of anyone singing Happy Birthday.

    Thanks for listening, I’m going to go have a Mai-Tai beer.

    Lead Image Courtesy

  • Apparently, No One Likes Mobile Device Users

    While we may be a nation of mobile device users — largely, anyway — it’s clear almost no one is using their device in a respectful, concerned-for-others manner.  What’s worse is, even if a large majority of users knows mobile device user behavior is largely inconsiderate, it doesn’t stop them from acting the same way when they’re using their own devices.

    Such are some of the findings from a recent Intel study over this very topic: Mobile Technology Etiquette 2011. Most, if not all of Intel’s findings are either A. not surprising, or B. obvious when you observe others using their mobile toys. 

    The biggest issue concerning mobile device etiquette is a distinct lack thereof. Some of the findings (pdf) include:

    – Nearly all U.S. adults (91 percent) have seen someone using their mobile device in an unusual place. The most common locations include behind the wheel (56 percent), in a Public restroom (48 percent), in a movie theater (32 percent) and on a honeymoon (9 percent).

    – The majority of U.S. adults (76 percent) say that if they had to choose, they would give up something other than their mobile Internet-enabled device for 1 week.

    – Seventy-four percent of U.S. adults believe that poor mobile etiquette has created a new form of public rage/violence, much like road rage

    – Sixty-five percent admit becoming angry around people misusing their mobile devices inappropriately.

    All interesting facts and figures, but perhaps the most informative part came when 92 percent of the respondents wished people would use better etiquette when using a mobile device.  While this sounds like a reasonable request, when contrasted with this tidbit of data:

    “Eighty-eight percent of U.S. adults agree that people rarely take others into consideration when using their mobile devices in public”

    You get the feeling the war for mobile device etiquette has already been lost, no matter how many suggestions Anna Post offers.  For instance, tips like the following are clearly lost on today’s mobile device user:

    “The solution is two fold. First, manage your time and other’s expectations, no matter how easy the technology makes it to respond immediately. You can return a call instead of answering, wait to answer a text, or excuse yourself for a minute to check email. Better yet, don’t keep a mobile device handy when you know you shouldn’t answer it. In a meeting? Put your laptop lid down. Better yet, keep your mobile devices in your handbag, briefcase or pocket.”

    A reaction consisting of “yeah, right” comes to mind, especially when it comes to the almost-extinct ideas of consideration and respect for others.  Throw a mobile device into the mix and it’s clear Post’s considerable writing ability would be better spent developing step-by-step guides for watching paint dry and lawn mower usage.