Don't Be a Jerkface. Seriously.

I have decided that while some of us were learning manners from our parents, other people were being raised by wolves....and not polite wolves. Actually wolves are too nice....more like snarling, rabid, mutant kodiak bears with a taste for human flesh.

And nowhere is this more evident that at the mall or Walmart or Target. There are just some things that you just DON'T do. They are rude, folks. And if you are guilty, change. :)

1. If you bump into me in the mall, say excuse me. 

2. If you see people coming the opposite direction, move over enough to make room so that you don't HAVE to bump into anyone. If that means that you and your 12 friends have to walk single file for 30 seconds, deal with it. 

3. You do not have to scream at each other to be heard. You also don't have to laugh obnoxiously loud. You may not realize that we all KNOW you are just trying to get everyone's attention, but we do. It is stupid; stop.

4. When coming out of a side aisle into the main aisle, look first. Pretend you are in your car. It will avoid us crashing our carts into each other. If I am in the main aisle, I shouldn't have to watch for you.

5. If you take your cart to the parking lot, put it in the cart return. The 10 extra steps it takes isn't the end of the world. That is just laziness. If you don't want to walk far, do what I do and park next to the cart return.

6. Do not walk down the middle of the parking lot aisle. I should not have to go 1 mile an hour behind you while you saunter to your vehicle.  Pick a side. You aren't royalty...you aren't that important.

7. When walking down aisles or climbing stairs, stay to the right. Again, just like in your car. Then there wouldn't be a traffic jam.

8. Hold the door for people if they are right behind you...no matter your gender or theirs. 

9. Do not leave your trash in the cart for someone else to deal with. Clean up after yourself. 

10. If you decide against buying something, put it back where you got it (esp if it is a refrigerated or frozen item)

11. DO NOT SPIT OUT GUM ON THE GROUND!!!!! EVER EVER EVER

12. Be kind to the cashiers and other workers...whether they are working hard or not. Be friendly, say hello, ask how their day has been, and try not to talk on the phone while checking out. Treat them like PEOPLE.  

13. Stop driving around and around the parking lot looking for a better space. If you have to walk a few extra feet, so what? Generally speaking, the people I observe doing this the most are the people who could most use the exercise. 

14. And don't let your kid tear around the store causing mayhem. If you have chosen to go to the store during what should be your child's naptime or late at night, you cannot then yell at, spank, or berate your child for acting out. YOU are the one who is wrong. (and as an addendum, stop telling your child over and over to stop doing something. Either actually make your child stop or give up. The rest of us don't want to listen to you yell "stop touching that" 500 times. Move him or take it away)

Basically, just use common courtesy. But that isn't so common anymore.