Ryans Ramblings: Give good manners a try

I've been somewhat homebound the past month recovering from knee replacement surgery, so I've watched a lot of television.

My new best friend, the ice pack, has me sitting in a chair with my leg up, a captive audience. I've watched more TV than usual while icing the knee for 20 minutes several times a day.

Did you know that a 30 minute program has eight minutes of commercials?

I watched the morning talk shows and came to one conclusion - only a few people say "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" when the host thanks them for appearing on the program. The usual response is another, "thank you."

Now, I'm sure that being asked to appear on a network program is an honor. You wouldn't have been asked if you didn't have something to contribute.

So let the host know you appreciate being asked and say, "It was my pleasure to appear on your program."

Doesn't that sound more gracious than another thank you?

OK, so I'm being picky. But there's one more thing that's irritating me.

An adult granddaughter came to visit me while I was recuperating. Of course, she had her cell phone with her. We never really talked because she was always talking to her friends on her cell phone.

What happened to good manners? On a landline phone, when you get a call you say, "May I call you back? I have company."

Shouldn't that apply to the cell phone, too? Then there's that Bluetooth attachment. Shove it into your ear and you can talk on the cell phone without using your hands. Whoopee.

Of course, that doesn't apply if you are texting.

Why should there have to be a request to turn off your cell phone at the theater or concert? Obviously, we have not been working on improving our phone manners.

Maybe we need to declare a cell phone moratorium. For one minute of silence, everyone shuts off their cell phone.

I'm not against technology - just against the rash of bad manners it seems to have fostered. I have a cell phone, and I do use it, but not when I'm talking in person to someone.

I've interviewed many people, and not once has someone carried on a long phone conversation while I was with them. Does that tell me that somehow we've forgotten to instruct our young people about courtesy and good manners?

Life is easier when we are considerate of others. You drive on the right side of the road; you take your seat in the pew at church and stop talking when the service begins. It's a simple courtesy. You say "please," "thank you," and "you are welcome." Being gracious doesn't cost anything, it just makes things smoother and more pleasant.

Give good manners a try. It's amazing what they can do to help ease you through life.

I like the Irish reply to the, "Top of the morning to you" greeting. The proper reply is, "And the rest of the day to yourself."

So thank you for reading this column. It is my pleasure to be communicating with you.