Nicron #44 24 июля 1997

Самиздат

Miscellaneous - "What was the vices are now habits." Reflections on morality.

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             "What was the vices NOW morals"
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(C) Tatiana Shashkov.
(R) MDF HACKER.

            "What was the vices NOW morals"

From childhood, I remember how hard we hammered into his head 
that we should give way to transport the elderly, that boys 
should skip ahead girls and other rules of conduct

hostel ... In the minds of many people, it settled so firmly 
that sometimes this knowledge, the reductio ad absurdum, cause

behavior is almost anecdotal.

In the subway car is not yet an old woman, and seeing two
seated young people, unprovoked bursts
angry tirade, the meaning of which briefly summarized as 
follows: All these youngsters terribly pluck propriety do not 
know, old age not respected. Passengers do not participate in 
the discussion and clearly sympathizers have been subjected to 
a surprise attack to young people, those Moreover, the 
aggressive lady looks youthful and full of strength. Law is an 
angry woman? And right there the other women, believe that this 
man must surely miss them forward at every door, throwing his 
coat at each feeding possible, to give way?


For the first time Maine was somewhat surprised "real 
gentleman" from one highly developed western country, which I, 
as a translator, accompanied on a business trip to Russia. He 
is a model respectability and excellent manners. Working with 
him was easy and nice, and I tried to close his eyes to his 
"distraction" - he regularly forgot to give me a cloak. And 
when I broke down "Lightning" to your travel bag, he 
compassionately watched my desperate attempts to fix it 
yourself and did not slightest attempt to help. I did not 
succeed. "You help me?" - I asked, trying to suppress

the growing irritation of his indifference. The readiness with 
which He rushed to my bag, like all my life waiting for this, 
much I was puzzled. Something is wrong here, I guess then.

Perhaps they have not decided to impose their attention.

This is a vague hunch has turned into certainty when I worked
in Siberia with the Canadian oil industry. With difficulty 
dragging heaviest suitcase for the plane, I caught myself at 
all the same sympathetic looks strong men, many of which were 
light, but no one in a hundred did not come to my aid. And only 
our translator from Moscow, not saying a word, took my luggage. 
I could not not observe the expression of something like the 
envy of the bearded face harsh Canadian.


My first shock of such an unusual behavior of the "Western
Gentlemen, I have taken at first for basic
discourtesy, passed on as working with
representatives of various Western countries, I was getting 
more and more and more evidence that this is not bad manners, 
but the norm behavior in a civilized society. Had

hear confessions and sad about how hard must
miserable men in those countries where the feminist movement
to gain traction. A man can never be sure,
that his courtesy would not be regarded as an act of
discrimination against women. Yes, and safe exercise
their natural instincts against a "weak woman": can and
tried to draw a personal insult.

So that is what the clue of the mysterious "nemuzhskogo"
conduct of our foreign contemporaries. And do not leave
obsessive thought: is it worth to fight for their rights? After
costs while increasing war of the sexes is inevitable. Well, we
too early to panic. Until equality is still very far away. 
Perhaps more more than one generation of women will be able to 
enjoy their privileges in our not very civilized country. But 
do not confuse sincere impulses with the responsibilities 
dictated by the mythical rules of conduct. Changing world 
conditions change, changes behavior and, accordingly, the 
rules. More Seneca in I century AD. er. lamented: "What was the 
vices, now morals." Of course, not should be taken ordinary 
boors for Progressive product of the new formation, but also 
require special treatment to his only on the basis of their 
gender unnecessarily, outdated and, more importantly, 
inefficient. Any woman is in Reserve plenty of opportunities to 
encourage men to enroll in accordance with her wishes. 
Sometimes it appropriately joke, a smile can do wonders. But it 
is unwise to expect from his colleague, neighbor communal 
apartment, each counter of the characters' behavior sentimental 
novel of the last century. 

But the rules of etiquette, if you take them literally, too
can lead to results tragicomic. I can not help
share a story told to me personally in one eastern
the country is quite high-ranking diplomats,
that is, displaying a rare courtesy, offered me a lift in
sorokagradusnuyu heat. Without considering that I was dealing 
with an undoubted expert protocol rules, I sat in the back 
seat, as the safest place, what is the same and expressed 
remorse, because I immediately sharply rebuked for bad manners. 
A further followed by an instructive tale that can not lead

almost verbatim. "I have worked in Africa, the country N. 
Ambassador we had clever, a real aristocrat. Already he knew 
the rules of etiquette! So So he decided to ride a little girl, 
and she in the back seat village. He told her: "Why are you sat 
in the back seat?" And she replied something about the rules of 
etiquette bleated, fool. Well, he showed her etiquette! Drove 
into the jungle and even threw out there. Continue attentively 
to read. " 

That's what non-standard methods used occasionally for
introducing culture to the masses. Although not very much 
believe that yet Such are the "true aristocrats" and "clever" 
will take educational functions, the general level of culture 
has a real chance to greatly increase. And although no one has 
yet given a clear formulation of what brought people in any

country, in every society, at any stage of development of 
civilization there is only one absolutely reliable criterion by 
which You know him: he would not hurt you with it you will feel

at ease and will not think about to what the hand
hold a fork. A rule book - minor matters. Especially because
compose their people ...



(C) WHALE