A friend and colleague of mine at the paper mentioned to me how he had an unfortunate hallway collision with a female who was texting while walking the hallway.
It inspired me to write this post, for you see I witness stuff like this every day roaming the halls at the college.
What has happened to etiquette? Did it go out the window with the arrival of roll over minutes and nights and weekends?
So I, Cameron Fletcher, in all my wisdom will now offer my tips on hallway etiquette.
First of all, for centuries mankind has gotten along on the principal that you walk on the right side and allow people to pass the opposite direction on the left. It's a simple process that allows for the seamless flow of humanity. Which brings me to the first tip.
Tip #1 Do not walk on the left side of the hallway.
We are not in Great Britain folks. Walk on the right. And don't get an angry look on your face when I make no effort to get out of your way since you are in fact on my side of the hallway. Walk on the right. It makes things easier.
Another thing I notice is people like to mingle right at crucial intersections of multiple hallways and talk about whatever is on their mind. Which leads me to my next pointer.
Tip #2 Do not loiter in the middle of a busy intersection
There actually are people on a time crunch who are trying to get to their next class or appointment. If you must chat make use of the seating areas around campus. They are there for a reason. Use them.
By mingling and loitering in the middle of congested trafficways and intersections just proves that you are only thinking of yourself and are too asinine to realize it. Get out of the hallway!
The other thing that I don't understand is people's naive nature when it comes to the laws that govern elevator etiquette. Moving on to the next tip.
Tip #3 When waiting for the elevator don't stand right in the doorway.
Stand off to the side. It was they way I was taught and should be common knowledge. By standing off to the side it allows anyone on the elevator that needs to get off the room to get off said elevator. As soon as all people who need to get off are off enter said elevator. It is common courtesy.
Yet I still encounter, daily I might add, people standing right in my way as I attempt to get off the elevator. As I nearly take them down like a linebacker going after the quarterback they have the marbles to flippantly say "excuse me" to which I reply, well I never reply actually.
I don't know who is to blame for all of this, the parents of these kids that apparently aren't teaching their kids how to act; or the young people of this generation who despite a lack of direction from authority still don't have enough common sense to know the difference between right and wrong, courteous and non-courteous or the way things are done. My gut tells me it's a little bit of both.
My only warning is beware crazy text messaging, left side walking, elevator door huggers the next person you may run into, literally, is me.
Send me your comments at cfletch5@jccc.edu
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