Warning! I’m climbing on my soap box this morning, so if you don’t want to listen to my rant, tune in tomorrow for something fun and somewhat sane.
When I was a kid (eons ago, I know) my mother, and the mothers of my friends, instilled in us some very basic manners. Like saying please and thank you. Using a napkin instead of your shirt sleeve. Not interrupting adults when they are talking.
One we all knew was don’t talk with your mouth full.
So why is it today so many people seem to be lacking even the most rudimentary knowledge of manners. I’m not talking Emily Post manners. I’m talking the basics. I can’t tell you how tired I am of saying thank you only to get a grunt or “yeah” in response. Are the words “you’re welcome” no longer acceptable in the English language?
I’m particularly bothered and annoyed by the number of sales people who call my office trying to get me to buy something while speaking around what sounds like a mouth full of food.
Are you kidding me?
It’s bad enough when I get calls at home and have to listen to someone chomp and gulp their way through the conversation, but it is completely unacceptable to have to listen to it in a professional environment.
How do these people think they are ever going to make a sale when they sound like a cow chewing cud?
Yesterday was the perfect example… I answered my phone only to have the person on the other end rapidly chew in my ear followed by a loud gulp before they could get out who they were and what they wanted. Instead of putting down what they were eating, they continued to do so while trying to convince me to spend a few thousand dollars with them.
Right.
I can put my trust and faith in a company that has such poorly trained sales people that they munch and nosh their way through their sales spiel to potential customers.
Do parents not teach manners any more or do people just not care?
Because believe me, I care.
I care a lot.
Rather than go into the list of manners that we seem to be losing as a society at a rapid rate, I will instead just put forth this request:
If you are calling anyone – or answering the phone, for that matter – please don’t talk with your mouth full!
It is rude.
It is distracting.
And it sure isn’t going to make me want to buy whatever it is you are selling.
She Who is Climbing Off Her Soapbox Now
