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Emily Post's Great-Grandson: 10 Essential Etiquette Tips For Men

Posted: 10/24/11 11:04 AM ET

No one ever said that etiquette was strictly a women's game. In recent years there has been an increased interest in classic etiquette as it applies to men. While I may be the first male author to work on a current edition of "Emily Post's Etiquette," Peter Post's "Essential Manners for Men" is one of the best-selling books the Emily Post Institute has ever released. Men are hungry to know what to do, what is expected of them and how to distinguish themselves.

Etiquette is all around us. It is the fabric of our social lives. Emily Post once said, "Any time two peoples lives touch one another, you have etiquette." Even in a world of studied informality, there are clear social expectations to be aware of and adhered to. Some manners are classics that will never change and some are brand new. We can all use a little reminder from time to time to refresh our memories about what is expected from us. Men especially can benefit from paying attention to a few social courtesies. Maybe you can help out the men in your life with some common sense advice from Americas most established etiquette tradition.

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80 percent of life is showing up. Simply being where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, illustrates a fundamental harmony in the way you conduct yourself that people will respond to. It shows great consideration for others when you keep to your stated schedule.
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No one ever said that etiquette was strictly a women's game. In recent years there has been an increased interest in classic etiquette as it applies to men. While I may be the first male author to wor...
No one ever said that etiquette was strictly a women's game. In recent years there has been an increased interest in classic etiquette as it applies to men. While I may be the first male author to wor...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mrsbean54
10:15 AM on 11/08/2011
As usual, good advice. Ladies need to be on their A-game, too, if they're going to land a man who follows these rules.

I think the key is WHY you follow etiquette rules, not THAT you follow them. If you follow them because you want others to know you are considerate of them, they will serve you well. However, if you follow them with a holier-than-thou attitude, you won't fool anyone.
08:05 PM on 10/30/2011
So, women shouldn't follow these tips? There are plenty of women with bad etiquette.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
signgrrl
typeface geek
11:42 AM on 11/07/2011
EVERYONE should follow these tips.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
themightyabealrd
screw the real world-I'm an artist!
04:34 AM on 10/28/2011
Maybe I belong in the 20th cnetury....but I do wish everyone...both genders....would cool it with the gutter language, especially when children are present. It is hard to convince my grandson that cursing is wrong when he hears it in so many public venues.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
whyus
San Francisco native
02:21 AM on 10/28/2011
All common sense. But worth reminding.
09:25 AM on 10/27/2011
My father passed down lots of manly wisdom to me. One of my favorites was "Never wear a brown suit after 6 p.m." I don't know why this is so. And yet, he was right. You never see a well-dressed man wearing brown in the evening.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
signgrrl
typeface geek
02:24 PM on 10/27/2011
very few men can carry off a brown suit anyway. a nice charcoal grey one is generally much better looking.
02:53 PM on 10/27/2011
Yep. That's what Dad advised: stick to black, dark blue, or charcoal gray. He also said it's better to own one really good suit than three cheap ones.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DandaPanda
I am not a republican
08:59 AM on 10/27/2011
What is really needed by both many men and women is a table manners refressher course. I am many times shocked by the disgusting habbits I am exposed too. I work in a field dominated by men and my gosh! Talking with food in the mouth , lip smacking eating sounds, shoveling mass quantities of food in at one time, slurping...yikes (and I have seen women who are guilty of this as well). I tell my daughter that good manner will take you far. Some big companies are now taking prospects out to lunch interviews. Behavior at the table tells lots about a person
04:51 AM on 10/27/2011
How does this not apply to women as well?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
signgrrl
typeface geek
02:24 PM on 10/27/2011
oh, it does.
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MSROADKILL612
am not convinced geothermal energy is above ground
06:01 PM on 10/26/2011
I couldnt make the link work - but my take is dont confuse etiquette w/ manners - my ex is an ace on etiquette but rude as hell - pretentious twadddle - often has the reverse effect - making non u people feel small - rude

queen victoria famously drank from a finger bowl to save a colonial guest embarrassment for doing the same - thats manners
03:44 PM on 10/26/2011
The only women who did not like it when I held the door for her--looked more like a man, anyway....
06:11 AM on 10/26/2011
If there were an article titled "10 Essential Etiquette Tips for Women", the man-haters would be up in arms, decrying the "repressive patriarchal establishment" for "denigrating women". But apparently, calling men inconsiderate slobs and insulting their intelligence in this manner is okay. Give me a break...
03:47 PM on 10/26/2011
The matriarchy is not supposed to be equitable--although most promoting this call themselves "socialist feminists."
This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]
12:30 AM on 10/26/2011
thats it? i am a god.
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WillowBreeze
A smile is your personal welcome mat.
09:11 PM on 10/25/2011
I enjoyed this article. It brought back many memories. I grew up hearing the name Emily Post so often I thought she was a distant relative. At times, it was rather annoying until I was older and amazed that my friends consulted my Mom on etiquette covering all occasions. Although, I clearly recall my Dad always sitting around gnawing on a toothpick, smiling while Mother let it slide, I guess even Emily couldn’t conquer all when love is leading. The man I married is extremely polite, which I found strange at first because he’s a builder, so was my Dad and he munched on wood. Our family followed by example; etiquette becomes ingrained and it’s not a bad thing. Thank you for the nostalgia kick, Daniel Post Senning, it was a nice to remember.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
signgrrl
typeface geek
03:56 PM on 10/26/2011
i still remember my grandmother giving me an emily post book because i had addressed a Christmas card to her friend incorrectly. never mind the fact that her friend never once sent me a card back. i 'lost" the book at the earliest opportunity and stopped sending her friend any cards at all.
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french queen13
my beloved is mine and I am his
08:47 PM on 10/25/2011
Apart from the one about asking before offering traditional courtesies, I think these tips should be followed by both sexes. Especially the ones about phones! :)
12:31 AM on 10/26/2011
the phones right?? ugh.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Hunter W
Bring more than your standardized leftist mantras.
11:48 AM on 10/26/2011
I agree - the traditional courtesies one is terrible. It should stick around.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bmitche
02:54 PM on 10/25/2011
Very good article. It should be mandatory reading.