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A review by bioniclib
Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door by Lynne Truss
2.0
I misunderstood the concept of this book. I thought it would be, like Eats, Shoots and Leaves, it would be more language or grammar based. Some interesting stuff here, though.
Here's my Lightning Round of Take-a-Ways:
The trouble with etiquette books is that there is no “bad manners” only “your manners” really. If you do something like write thank you notes, well then, that’s just good manners. If not, they’re old fashioned.
The effort is what’s important. The person who can’t read their own phone message for another person isn’t putting the effort in to communicate clearly.
She also hates computerized helplines because it puts the effort on you, not the company, to reach the right person. I’m not sure I agree with this one.
“Authority is largely perceived as a kind of personal insult which must be challenged.” (33)
“While you’re down there…” is a slogan referring to teenage oral sex on The Tube to pick up the litter, too. (36)
People have been complaining about manners since the 15th century. (51)
Computer menus make us do all the work. I disagree, here, too. The problem isn’t the work it’s the naming conventions being a personal word choice. (84)
Chapter 2 is all about how having too many choices is bad. I hear this quite often actually. The phrase “analysis paralysis” comes from this.
The Bubble chapter is railing against using cellphones for private conversations in public spaces.
The Effort chapter says that confrontations, even civil ones, are so rude, at least to the British. I wonder if my reading so much Brit Lit somehow subconsciously sunk this lesson into my poor little brain. It’s probably more due to my low self-esteem but still, interesting thought.
Is the EFF OFF! Reflex a symptom of the desire to never be wrong?
“Abuse is the weapon of the weak.” (151)
Politically correct language isn’t about respect it’s about fear of prosecution. I agree it can get to that point but it’s not black and white, sometimes it is about respect. Others, not so much. (164)
“Rules exist, it seems, but there are no rules about rules. This, in a nutshell, is the insanity of the modern condition.” (169)
“I aspire to be a zero-impact member of society.” Me too! (181)
Here's my Lightning Round of Take-a-Ways:
The trouble with etiquette books is that there is no “bad manners” only “your manners” really. If you do something like write thank you notes, well then, that’s just good manners. If not, they’re old fashioned.
The effort is what’s important. The person who can’t read their own phone message for another person isn’t putting the effort in to communicate clearly.
She also hates computerized helplines because it puts the effort on you, not the company, to reach the right person. I’m not sure I agree with this one.
“Authority is largely perceived as a kind of personal insult which must be challenged.” (33)
“While you’re down there…” is a slogan referring to teenage oral sex on The Tube to pick up the litter, too. (36)
People have been complaining about manners since the 15th century. (51)
Computer menus make us do all the work. I disagree, here, too. The problem isn’t the work it’s the naming conventions being a personal word choice. (84)
Chapter 2 is all about how having too many choices is bad. I hear this quite often actually. The phrase “analysis paralysis” comes from this.
The Bubble chapter is railing against using cellphones for private conversations in public spaces.
The Effort chapter says that confrontations, even civil ones, are so rude, at least to the British. I wonder if my reading so much Brit Lit somehow subconsciously sunk this lesson into my poor little brain. It’s probably more due to my low self-esteem but still, interesting thought.
Is the EFF OFF! Reflex a symptom of the desire to never be wrong?
“Abuse is the weapon of the weak.” (151)
Politically correct language isn’t about respect it’s about fear of prosecution. I agree it can get to that point but it’s not black and white, sometimes it is about respect. Others, not so much. (164)
“Rules exist, it seems, but there are no rules about rules. This, in a nutshell, is the insanity of the modern condition.” (169)
“I aspire to be a zero-impact member of society.” Me too! (181)