1. A gentleman says "please" and "thank you," readily and often.
2. A gentleman does not disparage the beliefs of others-whether they relate to matters of faith, politics, or sports teams.
3. A gentleman does not make jokes about race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation; neither does he find such jokes amusing
6. A gentleman knows how to stand in line and how to wait his turn.
9. A gentleman admits when he is wrong
A GENTLEMAN AND HIS CELL PHONE
-A GENTLEMAN KNOWS THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO USE HIS CELL PHONE
when he is behind the wheel of a vehicle, of any type
in the midst of a church service or during a theatre performance, a movie, or at a concert
in the midst of a church service or during a theatre performance, a movie, or at a concert
at a table in a restaurant of any type-be it fast-food or first-class
in the waiting room, or in the examining room, at a doctor's office
when standing in line at the grocery store, the post office, a deli, or any other place where customers may find themselves trapped as unwilling
witnesses to his conversation
in an elevator, unless he is alone, or in the company of only friends or coworkers
in the workout room at his gym
on the "quiet car" of a train
in the cabin of an airplane, unless some actual, dire emergency demands it
in any place where signage, or a public announcement, notifies him that the use of cell phones is not permitted
A gentleman who happens to be a doctor checks his pager with an usher or changes it to the silent setting. However, if he is a real estate agent out for an
evening at the theatre, he turns off his pager and his cell phone entirely. A real-estate closing is not a life-threatening emergency.
A gentleman does not switch on his cell phone and launch into a conversation the moment his plane has landed, simply because a flight attendant has told
him it is safe to do so.
If a flight attendant tells a gentleman to turn off his cell phone, his MP3 player, his laptop, or any other electronic device, he does so immediately. He does
not behave childishly, attempting to stay on the phone until he has been singled out for having ignored the safety instructions.
Although a gentleman may be enjoying music, by means of his personal sound system and with his earbuds plugged in, he still keeps the volume turned to
a reasonable level, knowing that an earth-shattering sound level may well be shattering the nerves of the persons seated near him.
A gentleman does not assume that, because his wireless headset is inconspicuous, his conversations are inconspicuous, as well.
Whenever a gentleman uses his cell phone or his headset on a crowded sidewalk or in the aisle of a grocery store, he still keeps track of where he is
going. No matter how important or intriguing his conversation may be, it still does not justify his ramming into another shopper's grocery cart.
A gentleman does not use his camera phone in ways that intrude upon the privacy of others.
A gentleman understands that if the taking of photographs is prohibited at any concert or other performance or in an art gallery, that prohibition also
includes camera-phone pictures.
A gentleman does not attempt to walk and send a text message at the same time.
A gentleman understands that, for good or ill, as he walks down a sidewalk while engaged in a conversation via his wireless headset, passersby may
understandably take him for a paranoid schizophrenic.
A GENTLEMAN GOES TO THE THEATRE
Because he respects other people, a gentleman always shows up on time for any performance, whether it is a concert, a motion picture, or a stage
play. If he arrives late, he does not attempt to be seated until there is a suitable break in the performance. (In the case of a play or a musical comedy,
his tardiness may require him to wait until intermission.) In every case, he follows the instructions of the ushers. If he behaves himself, a gentleman
knows, a kindly usher may quietly slip him into a seat on the back row.
A gentleman never forgets that watching a live performance is not the same thing as watching a TV show in his own living room. He does not talk
during the performance-even during the very loudest music or sound effects. He does not shift about in his seat unnecessarily.
If a gentleman has a tendency to cough, he always carries a mint or throat lozenge. Should he find himself surprised by an uncontrollable coughing
jag, a gentleman leaves the auditorium-both for his own good and for the good of others.
At a concert or any other musical performance, a gentleman does not applaud until the end of a complete musical number. If he is unsure, he is welladvised
not to start an ovation alone.
Without even being asked to do so, a gentleman turns off his cell phone or pager as soon as he enters the theatre. (He also understands that, in this
case, "off" means the phone is completely silenced-not simply switched to the "vibrate" mode.) Because he knows others may be wishing to study
their program notes or simply to prepare themselves, mentally, for the performance ahead, he does not engage in cell phone chit-chat once he has
settled into his seat.
When a gentleman makes his way down a row in a crowded theatre, he faces the people who are already in their seats. A gentleman never forces others
to stare at his backside.
A gentleman does not hum along, sing along, or beat time to the rhythm at any concert, unless the performers have invited him and his fellow audience
members to do so.
If a gentleman has left a telephone message for, or sent an e-mail to, another person, he does not leave badgering follow-up calls or insistent follow-up emails,
especially if no deadline is involved.
A gentleman does not hesitate to screen his calls.
