Please be nice
Here at the newspaper office, we've been commenting on an unattractive trend — lack of common courtesy. In other words, folks are just plain rude.
We use our manners when dealing with customers, remember to say "please" and "thank you" as well as "can we help you?" and "excuse me."
Apparently it's a lost art.
It's understandable that people get upset about mistakes in the paper. What we don't understand is why folks have to be rude when they call to report an error.
Contrary to popular belief, we don't make mistakes on purpose; we aren't out to "get" anybody; we aren't "digging up dirt" on anyone. Our job is to report the news.
Occasionally, we make mistakes. When we do, we regret it. We try to correct the errors, apologize, and move on.
Could it be that some folks just like to hold a grudge? For example, Aunt Harriet remembers when the paper printed Cousin Joe's obituary and had the date of death wrong. Oh yes, Cousin Joe died in 1958! That's a long time to be mad at the newspaper — or anyone, for that matter.
Does it make any sense to be angry and rude to a waitress because she got your order wrong? Does it make sense to get mad at the gas station owner because gas prices go up? Of course not!
Marion's a small town. Everyone knows everyone. There's no room for rudeness and bad manners. As the essayist Maurice Baring said, "Whoever one is, and wherever one is, one is always in the wrong if one is rude."
We all could practice better manners. Everyone appreciates hearing a kind word.
Thank you.
— DONNA BERNHARDT
