Thursday 18 April 2013

P as in PROPRIETY (A-Z Challenge)

Propriety, or being proper, speaks of conforming to accepted standards, in bahaviour or morality. As in polite, and nice. 

As you may have gathered, I do not care much for strict or stringent propriety. Not that I'm opposed to having good manners. But trapped in the obfuscation of political correctness, for example, we lose a sense of what is real. We use "proper" language to hide meanings and motives, actions and attitudes. It's phoney baloney (as Mel Brooks might say). 

I think we, collectively, as Humans (particularly North American Humans) tend to spend much too much time and energy on propriety. I think plainer speech, without being unkind, would help all of us.

P is also for purple, plain, plane, peculiar (as in Bear), and Penobscot.

Blessings and Bear hugs, friends. 

27 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree with you more - we are way too much into what we have and not on what is really important! sandie

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  2. I tend to tell it just how it is no matter what the situation. Kind of the good and bad thing about me LOL. I do believe in being polite and I have no tolerance for rudeness which both of my kids will be the first to tell you. Great post!

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks for ideas. No nonsense with you. Right.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  3. MANY years ago a fine gentleman composed a poem for me .. one of the stanzas 'It is certain that I’ll see you again
    very certain – damn propriety and then I’ll tell your fortune in the stars upon a wooden ship in the sea'
    I cherish the poem and his memory. Thank you for the little reminder.

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    1. What made me think you would love a line with "damn propriety" in it? (Not to worry; I'll tell no tales.)

      Thanks for the love poem.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  4. Agreed. In many cases, honesty rather than complete propriety would make things so much easier.

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    1. Honest. Simple. Good. Thanks Eagle.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  5. I agree. I a tell you how I see it sort of woman. I don't think I'm rude or crude, but I won't sugar coat it either. Being rude or sarcastic for the sake of being rude or sarcastic is another thing all together and I do think that's bad manners.

    Dark Thoughts Blog

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    1. Thanks, Mary. Rude and sarcastic do not rate highly we me, either.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  6. Ooh, I like honey bears. Oh, honest Bear.

    Oops.

    Prim and proper are not Evil Twin's strong points.

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    1. I certainly understand about Evil Twin, Reffie. I've experienced that. Really, I don't know why you and Oreo put up with Evil Twin. Deep kindness in your heart, somewhere, I guess.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  7. You made me laugh with the P word peculiar ( as in Bear) Ha
    I agree, but I don't pay much mind to what I should or should not do, as is the same with Bear. It's a little annoying when people correct me in public. It's kinda the "old dog and the new tricks" thing.
    Actually, I like to say that word
    .... propriety

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    1. The propriety of a peculiar Bear. Has a certain ring to it. Hmmmm? Je ne sais quoi.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  8. Good point. Beating around the bush when straighfowardness would be better is, well, better. There is a line to be drawn, however. Being too plain in speech can lead to hurt feelings and/or someone taking offense. I guess we have to gauge a person's personality and see what they can and cannot take. I digress because I'm failing at making my point. haha The end. :)

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    1. That's why I added the note about not being unkind. Kindness in itself deals with a significant number of problems.

      It's getting late. Hope you sleep well.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  9. I totally agree with you. I'm even ok with hurt feelings because they teach us something. Plain speech and truth for me are the key to real trust. I knew I liked you! Jennifer a.k.a Urban Gypsy Girl

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    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Developing trust in relationships. So important!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  10. I believe in speaking plainly, but being polite. There's no reason to spout bad language and cruelty all over. I get tired of it. I'm also pretty tired of "bad language" in the sense of bad English. I often wonder if any of these people have ever gone to school or read a book. Ok, I'd better get off my soap box before I fall and hurt myself. Have a great day, Bear!

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    1. No child left behind; we worry about adults.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  11. In my neck of the woods plain speaking is called being a gob shite

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    1. Oh, dear. Well, here's to better English. The Queen's English, mind you.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  12. Right. So much easier to just say what we mean once we've done a heart-check for love. Lots less misunderstanding and assumption. Lots less confusion.

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    1. "Say what you mean; mean what you say." Says my son (whose son is helping me with this).

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  13. Very true! :)
    #1227
    A to Z April Blogging Challenge
    http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/r-is-for-rope/

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  14. I agree with you there. I can't stand manners that come off as fake, although there's no good reason to be mean or rude either.

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

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