http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2009/may/missmanners050109.html
Excerpts:
Now that etiquette was back, Martin said she started getting letters
from people inquiring what kind of clothes should be worn in fancy
restaurants and how to have their special event, with the caveat of
getting someone else to pick up the tab.
“They would tell me, in great detail, about their dream wedding, or in
which restaurant they were hosting their big birthday party,” Martin
said. “It was 90 percent about themselves, sometimes 98 percent. They
even wanted me to tell them the most polite way to tell their guest
what to bring and what they would have to pay for this and that.”
Martin also mentioned a letter she received from a woman who was upset
because she was planning on celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary
with a big party, and then her husband did the unforgivable -- he
died.
“She said, all the people I know had their 25th anniversary parties,”
Martin said. “I wanted my 25th anniversary party. It's not my fault my
husband died.”
Martin said she believes one of the root causes of the current
economic quagmire is the fact that people began to have a notion that
it is acceptable to get money out of relatives and strangers through
everything from gift registries to school fundraisers for their
children.
“Isn't there a better way to get money out of people and relatives and
basic strangers? The shame has totally disappeared,” Martin said.
“What we have done is institutionalize the idea of fleecing each
other.”...........
Lenona.
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