Civility Week 8: Feb 20, 2012

Did you know there are books on Civility? I ran across one today called, “Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct” by Dr. P. M. Forni. Dr. Forni is a professor of Italian Literature at Johns Hopkins University.  In 2000 he founded the Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins and teaches courses on the theory and history of manners.

I haven’t read his book yet, but from the reviews I was reading it seems like an interesting read. Some of the chapter titles include:

Pay Attention!

Acknowledge others

Think the best

Listen

Be inclusive

Speak kindly

Don’t speak ill

Accept and give praise

Respect even a subtle “no”

Respect other’s opinions

Mind your body

Be agreeable

Keep it down (and rediscover silence)

Respect other people’s time

Respect other people’s space

Apologize earnestly

Assert yourself

Avoid personal questions

Care for your guests

Be a considerate guest

Think twice before asking for favors

Refrain from idle complaints

Accept and give constructive criticism

Respect the environment and be gentle

Don’t shift responsibility and blame.

 Wow, this sounds like the things I nag my kids about! Which means, hmmm….these must be pretty general, basic sound ideas for how to raise a child to become a civil adult.