Comments on: Open thread 12/23/2025

By: Richard Aubrey

Richard Aubrey — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:41:20 +0000

The pieces about Brit manners keep mentioning “post war”. Am I right in getting the impression this is pretty much all about after WW II? Or WW I?
In either case, Britain didn’t have a window to throw it out of, and so behavior, which is free, became a class marker. Didn’t have to pay a tailor.

By: Richard Aubrey

Richard Aubrey — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:44:32 +0000

R2L.
l still try to remember to do that, if only to be contrary to current expectations.
I just hit eighty, but up until not too long ago, people might remark that, if I were thinking about something serious, I seemed menacing. Size, face, etc.
So figured it couldn’t hurt to make it clear I was okay.

Back in the day, any gentleman was also a soldier, if only informally at need, with whatever that meant, and usually armed, if only a dagger at the belt. It was important to be able to read the guy, and his possible mood. If he failed in such expectations, maybe it was worth paying a bit more attention.

By: F

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:35:06 +0000

Mike:

I agree with Barry Muslin — thanks for that link to the Sasse op-ed. He is right about the Congress having abdicated its Constitutional role, and it needs to be said. I am not confident anyone will change the way they operate, but it still needs to be said.

By: Barry Meislin

Barry Meislin — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 04:32:31 +0000

Mike, thanks much for that Ben Sasse link.

By: R2L

R2L — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 04:01:00 +0000

Perhaps the British were carrying on a rather longer tradition:
“By age sixteen, George Washington had copied out by hand, 110 rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.”
https://customsitesmedia.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/370/2015/05/17225158/George-Washingtons-Rules.pdf

Richard Aubrey: “If, in the old days, a man didn’t rise when a woman entered the room, it meant something.”
Somehow that particular element of etiquette was not introduced into my expected behavior, although I of course knew to vacate my seat on public transport in favor of a lady when appropriate (as well as door-holding, etc.).
And perhaps to rise (as a child or younger man) when an older person approached me.
But my mother was a First stage feminist and taught her sons to treat women respectfully but that they were as capable as a man in most areas outside of the obvious physical differences. I think I exercised that approach mostly in the workplace setting but not always outside of it, where my childhood training would still have been operative.

By: huxley

huxley — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:12:04 +0000

Richard Aubrey:

Well-written!

By: Richard Aubrey

Richard Aubrey — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:05:23 +0000

If, in the old days, a man didn’t rise when a woman entered the room, it meant something. That was useful for the woman to know and for others in the room.

By: Mike Plaiss

Mike Plaiss — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 23:20:28 +0000

I’m very sad to hear the news about Ben Sasse. I believe he first came to my attention with this editorial in the WSJ:

Blame Congress for Politicizing the Court
https://archive.fo/c3bZR

Anyone who can write something that perfect is OK by me. He will be in my prayers.

By: FOAF

FOAF — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:40:33 +0000

Barry, re your Instapundit link on fast-growing economy: Bauxite hardest hit

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 20:44:20 +0000

@Shirehome and @kate, I’ve experienced dirty looks and negative comments holding the door open for a few women at the YMCA here in the Woodlands, Tx. Pointed it out to my wife and she encouraged me not to let it stop me as the vast majority of women respond as Kate would/does.