Yes, There is Proper Etiquette for a Pandemic
Yes, There is Proper Etiquette for a Pandemic
The concept of ‘Etiquette’ derives from one of the longest rulers in European history and serves the same purpose that it did over three hundred years ago – to outline rules and guidelines for societal behavior.
Louis IV, the Sun King, enjoyed entertaining and sharing the grandeur and opulence of the Palace of Versailles, but he wanted to preserve the integrity of the estate, so he started issuing signs for guests outline his vision of how people should behave while on the property such as “stay off the grass.” When the signs failed, he would issue tickets to the guests that outlined the rules, or “etiquette” he required on the property.
Etiquette serves the same purpose today; it is simply a set of rules by which a society abides. When something unexpected happens, like the first pandemic in over a century, following the societal rules implemented by our elected officials is paramount in preventing further damage from these unprecedented circumstances. Situations like this force people to panic and act irrationally, essentially harming others.
When frazzled people go out and buy all the face masks and hand sanitizer to protect themselves and their families, it takes it out of the hands of medical personnel, or other people in greater need. If you are healthy, fantastic! But, keep in mind there are people all around us with compromised immune systems, and by not self-distancing or taking the simple recommended precautions into account, we could be putting their lives at risk.
Following the rules of etiquette in this current situation shows others that you care about them, that we are all on the same team, fighting the same battles and willing to help each other in whatever lies ahead.
Modern etiquette isn’t simply about throwing lavish dinner parties, how you walk on stairs or writing letters on pretty stationery.
Yes, it can be defined as “doing the right thing in social situations,” but let’s translate that into today’s needs where we need to watch out for one another more intensely than ever. Doing the right thing in society under the current stressful situation means following the rules put in place for the betterment of us all and making choices that show other people that we respect their place in society as much as our own.
We do this by treating them with kindness and respect, and considering other people’s needs when making choices for ourselves.
We all have a choice to make – to act solely in our own self-interests or to also take the interests of others into account. It’s not exceptionally hard to be well mannered and follow etiquette, especially in times of panic and uncertainty. Simply thinking about our actions and how they affect others is all it takes. And, right now, we are all in this together.
If you are interested in improving your etiquette in professional and social settings click here to explore The Polite Society courses and etiquette tips.
