Why Dapper Sapiens?

Dapper sapien (Pinterest pic)

Some of us were privileged to attend schools were training in etiquette was a must in both theory and practice. Busoga college Mwiri was founded as a school for chiefs and sons of chiefs in Busoga and therefore, etiquette was inculcated in the students way of life. They were supposed to behave, act, speak, eat etc in a proper way.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Etiquette is a code of behaviour that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group. The French word étiquette first appeared in English around 1750. It represents the customs or rules governing behaviour regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life. It is a conventional but unwritten code of practice followed by members of any of certain professions or society.

Mwiri Primary school, the junior school of Busoga college Mwiri continued that tradition of training in and maintaining etiquette. However, Fr. Grimes of Namasagali College, took etiquette training to a different level. He taught students all mannerisms of the English noble class! From personal hygiene, dressing, laughing, communicating, sporting, reading, walking, eating, toilet habits, mention it, Fr. Grimes trained us how to do it properly and in an acceptable way. The school even had a court system were there were judges and one would not be punished before hearing his or her side of story.

That was then in those good old days of the golden 70s and 80s! Fast forward to today! It is unbelievable how today's kids are brought up. they have no manners, speak their own invented English and have no respect for elders. It seems the only thing they are taught at school is how to pass the exams. 

I have observed that they don't even know how to dress. You find a young man going to work in the morning donning a dinner jacket! Or find them at cocktail parties complaining that they are no seats! At a buffet, they will pile everything on one plate, the soup, main dish, chicken, fish, beef, fruits, salad and cake or ice cream (dessert) on the same plate! Out of the 15 pieces of cutlery laid on the table, they can only use one or 2. Their choice of clothes and combinations are very embarrassing. Unfortunately, it is reflected among the top leadership where there is no sense of style at all. There are just a handful of politicians, top civil servants and chief executives that you can say are dapper in the true sense of the word.

I decided to introduce this blog because etiquette besides teaching which fork to use for the salad course and what dress to choose for cocktail receptions, etiquette covers much broader issues. Basic etiquette rules can help at casual picnics, on the phone, at company holiday parties, online and at wedding receptions. Politeness works everywhere, all the time. At home, your good manners help everyone in your family develop self-esteem. In the office, good manners stimulate others to work well with you. As Thomas Sowell said, “Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back.”

Etiquette is all about building better relationships with your family, friends, co-workers, and other people in your life. (http://etiquette-tips.com/what-is-etiquette) 

Etiquette guidelines advise on how to behave with courtesy and consideration in your day-to-day life  — whether you’re addressing an in-law, answering your cell phone, opening a gift, or attending a special function.

In addition to etiquette, I will also be writing about style. Style are the characteristics or elements combined and expressed in a particular (often unique) and consistent manner. Derived from 'stilus,' the Latin word for a sharp instrument for making relatively permanent marks on clay or wax writing tablets. Style can be an elegant, fashionable, or luxurious mode of living:a mode of fashion, as in dress, especially good or approved fashion; elegance; smartness or the mode of expressing thought in writing or speaking by selecting and arranging words, considered with respect to clearness, effectiveness, euphony, or the like, that is characteristic of a group, period, person, personality, etc.

In addition to Style and Etiquette, I will also write about several other like: Dress code, Elegance, Food and drink, Education, Exercise, Health, Interior design, Blogging, Suits, tuxedos, shoes, ties, accessories etc.

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