Filed under: Everyday Chatter
The other night while we were out to dinner there were a lot of people standing and waiting to be seated. We had taken a seat while we waited, but people were still pouring in. An older lady came in and was standing next to us, and I made Aidan get up and stand (or sit in my lap) so she could sit down. Ironically enough, another man sitting by me immediately did the same and offered his seat, as if I’d given him a reminder.
Today, we went to lunch and there were not enough seats. People were pulling up seats to tables where they shouldn’t be. I noticed that not one single solitary man got up to let a lady have his seat. Not.One.
One of the men got up to go get something, and my friend sat in his seat. The guy sitting next to him them announced that he would get up so I could sit down because, after all, he was done eating. However, when the first guy came back and saw my friend sitting there, he made a big deal out of her taking his seat. What? More than likely, this man can save the world on tomorrow, but all I’ll remember is that he has no manners.
I’m sorry, but chivalry is so not dead. It is just common courtesy to offer a lady your seat. Scratch that — it’s more than a courtesy, it’s what a man is supposed to do. I make it a point to teach Aidan that ladies are supposed to be treated a certain way. I grew up around lots of genteel Southern gentlemen who stood for ladies and opened doors. Perhaps I’m old fashioned, perhaps I’m setting back the women’s movement. Or perhaps I’m teaching my son one of the steps required to claim his title as a true gentleman.
