Manners

Many people see manners to be a social relic, but they still mean a great deal to some people, especially the social elite. Don’t turn down someone’s favor over some slight action. (You don’t want to offend people over nothing. This is basically a big list of what not to do.)

• Don’t put down people’s views, appearance, idols, god, work, artwork, church, neighborhood, causes, possessions, family, pets, or friends. If you must, do this indirectly by putting down an action or event. Of course if someone is putting you down this rule does not apply (Among many popular cultures it is ok to put down friends and family when not in very mixed company – it is seen as a test of friendship).
• Table manners. Table etiquette has mostly disappeared, but there are some rules that still hold true: Eat with your mouth closed, don’t cough or breathe on other people’s food, don’t reach completely across the table, don’t pick at your teeth, and use a napkin. These rules can be weaker or stronger depending on the formality of the group.
• Don’t touch your face, groin, or feet.
• Don’t interrupt. In some competitive social scenes it can be ok to interrupt, but usually unless you have something important to say, interrupting is rude. If someone is not doing a good job telling a story you can could tell them to get to the point.
• Avoid refusing gifts. Of course you don’t have to accept anything someone might offer, but know that they may think less of you for not having something in common.
• Don’t ask people questions when they are chewing food or preoccupied.