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    The Over

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    cha biet nay la cais gif

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    The Over

    Uploaded by

    M
    3 views2 pages
    cha biet nay la cais gif

    Original Title

    The over

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    cha biet nay la cais gif

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    3 views2 pages

    The Over

    Uploaded by

    M
    cha biet nay la cais gif

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    The over-arching theme of these two texts is social behavior.

    The first considers the fact that different groups of society have different ideas about what is acceptable behavior. What is normal for
    one set of people may appear rude to another group. This text makes the point that it is important to appreciate that others may have
    differing viewpoints, claiming that such awareness can help to avoid social conflicts. The second text looks at the issue from a
    contrasting angle. It argues against the desirability of behaving in socially acceptable ways. Its contention is that being too concerned
    about social conventions stifles individuality and may even have a negative effect on our own psychological health.

    In my opinion, there is little to disagree with in the first text. It is an undeniable fact that behavioral norms vary across generations,
    classes and cultures and it is also true that understanding and tolerance provide the soundest basis for our approach to social
    difference.

    The second text is possibly more contentious. While it may be the case that some people are over-concerned about etiquette and
    unimportant social rules, I feel that some conventions for social behavior have a positive impact on everyone’s lives. It all depends
    on the type of rule. I do not feel that it is important to know which way you ‘should’ tip your bowl when eating soup or when you
    should or shouldn’t wear gloves but I do think it is desirable to say please and thank you and to behave in a considerate way towards
    one’s fellows. In other words, I think that basic social conventions serve a useful purpose but that they should be used to oil our
    interactions rather than becoming too much of an end in themselves.
    How should we behave in society? Should we follow social norms or should we use our own individual judgement to decide what is
    the appropriate way to conduct ourselves?

    Some people find it very important to obey the rules of etiquette, to do what others consider proper. There are people – often the
    older generation – who get very upset when others do not follow social conventions, when they, for example, speak loudly on mobile
    phones in public places or lick their fingers or queue jump.

    However, it should be noted that the things that irritate people will vary from one society to the next; the rules of queue behavior, for
    instance, are very different in London, Moscow and Istanbul, and how it is acceptable to use a mobile phone differs considerably
    from one society to the next. Similarly, it is important to remember that social conventions change over time. It was once considered
    improper to eat on the street but now no-one pays the slightest attention to someone walking along munching a sandwich or an
    apple. The key to avoiding conflict, it seems, is imaginative empathy.

    In general, it is counter-productive to worry too much about what the socially acceptable way to behave might be in any given
    situation. It can stop you thinking about what is the moral way to behave as you may become more focused on what is ‘proper’
    rather than on what is right. You can also start suppressing your own important individuality and originality as you become
    unhealthily anxious about what others might be thinking.

    The rules that do not – and should not – change are those regarding behavior that has an effect on others. Dropping litter, for
    example, or pushing someone out of the way should always be condemned as inappropriate behavior.

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