Gum chewing has been around for decades and for the most part, it’s inoffensive. However, there are those times when gum chewing, especially smacking, is frowned upon. Sometimes – strangely enough – it can even affect our future and how others view us. Read on to learn how.
Not at
a wedding!
The
wedding
march begins as the bride walks the procession.
Ah, the lovely bride in her flowing gown smiling at her soon-to-be
spouse. All in the crowd stand as she
floats down the aisle. At once, her
expression changes, she stops, as her guests’ heads turn toward alien sounds
coming from the front row. Smack,
pop…yep, it’s the sounds of the ill-mannered gum chewer.
Unfortunately,
this scene is playing out every day somewhere in our lovely US of A. Why is this of importance? The simple answer is that the gum chewer’s
smacking and popping distract from the very reason guests are attending the
event. It is disrespectful to the bridal
couple and the guests who have come to witness and enjoy the moment. Plus, it’s just plain irritating!
Not at
a funeral!
Imagine
you’ve just lost a beloved family member – someone whose life affected
many. As you stand in front of a sea of
weeping eyes and with a lump in your throat the size of Texas, you begin to
offer a heartfelt tribute at her funeral. Your words are halted by bovine sounds of
smacking accentuated by snapping and popping.
This
scene might seem embellished, but unfortunately, it happens all too often. In fact, I recently appeared on a local
network in response to a viewer’s experience with a similar situation. The viewer was disgusted at the noise and
inconsiderate behavior of the gum chewer for the bereaved.
As
an etiquette professional, I agree that smacking gum during a funeral is
inconsiderate and unbelievably crude.
My advice: toss the gum before stepping through the doors. We attend to give our respect, not to attain
negative attention.
Are
you kidding me? Never at an interview!
As
one who has taught interviewing
skills for over a decade, I’m still floored by the staggering number of people
who don’t consider every aspect of their appearance before the interview. First impressions are extremely important, so
most candidates agonize over choice of attire, haircut, and even the shine on
their shoes. Even so, many gum chewers
smack, pop, and slurp their way through the interview unaware of the child-like
image they emanate.
Thus,
it is best to nix the gum. If concerned
about bad
breath, consider breath mints or sip some water directly before the
interview. But never, ever chew gum
during an interview!
Everything
we do matters. Everything we do affects
others—either in a positive or a negative manner. Scrutinize your public behaviors and how each
will affect others. Decide how you want
to be perceived. If you want to be
perceived as a socially savvy, considerate person, behave like one. It’s that simple.
Please
Read
Etiquette
101: Courtesy, Consideration, and Kindness Matters Even in the Darkest Days
Yikes! Cell Phone Abuser is at it
Again! I Can Help With That
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