"Respect yourself and others will respect you." - Confucius
The saying goes that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and could be used as a perfect description of a situation where our well-intentioned behavior is misinterpreted.
“Looking better than ever,” we often say to acquaintances whom we have not seen for a long time. Were we telling them that they looked good right now, or were we telling them that they didn't look good before? The line is really thin, and on the list of habits that get on the nerves of many, there are a few similar "decent" habits.
1. Incorrect addressing
While some will be offended that you didn't show them respect and address them with "you", others may perceive this address as a lack of respect. A similar situation can occur when addressing women stating their age or marital status, as well as when using academic titles.
2. Unsolicited praise
Well-intentioned compliments related to physical appearance can backfire and make the person you're complimenting feel uncomfortable or even objectified. Think twice before complimenting someone on their appearance, especially if you're in a large group.
3. Excessive sharing of private information
One thing you probably learned as a child is that short answers are disrespectful. But if you did otherwise, you could reveal too much information and details about yourself that are not strictly related to the question asked. In some cases, this kind of response is desirable, especially in a professional setting, with someone you are meeting for the first time, and when it comes to expressing your views. In these cases, the rule "less is more" applies.
4. Early arrival of guests
Being late is considered a sign of disrespect, so many people decide to arrive early, just to be on the "safe side". But this "decent" habit probably annoys your host. They invited you to come at 18:00, most likely they are not ready and do not want guests earlier. Unless the host has actually asked you to arrive early to help them, don't show up before the actual time of the invitation. And that this means that "academic five" is fine. It's polite to arrive on time, but giving your host a few extra minutes is even better.
5. Cleaning the table while guests are eating
Whether you are at a restaurant or having dinner at home, this situation can be very uncomfortable. Starting to clean when someone is still there is rude to that person and can make everyone, including that person, think you are asking them to leave. And even when everyone's done eating, stacking plates can still give the impression that you're trying to get them off the table.
6. Choose to ride in the back seat
Someone offered you a ride and you decided to sit in the back seat. You may think you're helping, but all you're really accomplishing is giving the impression that you don't believe in the driver's abilities. If you don't see a serious danger, get into the passenger seat.
7. Ordering on behalf of another person
You may think it's polite or cute, but avoid ordering food on behalf of the other person (unless they've made it clear what they want). Others are able to speak for themselves. In addition, the waiter may find himself in an awkward position, as there may be a wrong order and a communication error. When it comes to restaurants, it's important to follow another rule when ordering. Define clearly what exactly you want to order and make a decision within a reasonable time. Procrastination only creates tension and increases the possibility of developing an unpleasant situation.
