Charleston again ranked ‘best-mannered city’
Over the past few weeks, Houston has been recognized as the fattest and now as the #9 Most Polite City. Right, we’re fat, our air is chock-full of carcinogens, and our collective driving skills suck. Nonetheless, we’ll be smiling at you as we force you off the road in our ‘87 Buick Regal (with the Bush-Cheney sticker on the rear bumper) while we’re sucking down that Quarter-Pounder with bacon, mayo and extra cheese.
Of course, this whole idea is highly subjective, but I think it is an interesting reflection on regional differences.
“When you pass people on the street, they will nod at you,” said Nicholas Fuqua of Tour Charleston, which conducts city walks.
“People who live here are, for whatever reason, polite. Whether it’s breeding or in the water, it’s hard to say,” he said.
When you pass people on the street in Miami, if they acknowledge you at all, it will likely be with an obscenity and a demand that you get the hell out of their way. Anyone who has ever driven anywhere in Miami should be able to back me up on this point.
Personally, I think you can create their own atmosphere of politeness, based on the way you treat people. If you treat people with kindness, you will generally be treated with kindness in return (Miami being the obvious exception). If you want to be treated with dignity, kindness, and respect, you are much more likely to get it if your dealings with those around reflect those qualities.
If nothing else, I think Ms. Stewart’s rankings are an interesting commentary on the state of the value we place on interpersonal harmony. Be nice to those you come in to contact with, and I think you’ll be surprised at how nice people will generally be in return. Treat people with dignity, respect, and kindness, and you more often than not will receive the same in return (unless, of course, you’re in south Florida).
At risk of turning this into a lecture, this method works for me. My job requires that I deal directly with people on a daily basis. I am constantly surprised at how far a little bit of kindness goes. That shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise, but in today’s world it can be an easy thing to lose sight of.
Remember, we really ARE all in this together.
