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AUDIENCE COMMENTS |
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An opportunity for the audience to have their say on In Our Time. |
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POLITENESS
Pete Darby - Politeness on the internet?
Helen: in my experience, standards on the internet vary greatly depending on where the debate is taking place on the internet. In some places, pseudonymous "handles" are expected, in others they are seen as a barrier to honest debate. The general standard of using first names is, I believe, engendered by the immediacy and conversational nature of internet communication: when debating with a gentleman named Chris Lerich, whom I have never met, I instinctively address him as either Chris or by his handle Clerich, as calling him Mr Lerich (I think he may be Dr Lerich, I'm not sure) would feel stand-offish, and perhaps a little sarcastic.
Sylvia Potvin -- Politeness
This was one of the most interesting programmes I've heard on BBC4 in my 4 years here. The historical context of 'politeness', its evolution, combined with its present status, was presented in a most interesting and humorous fashion. It explained so many of the 'politeness' social mores that still exist in England today, a lot of which are quite mysterious to new residents to your country. I'm now sure, however, (I must listen to the programme again) if you managed to cover the antecedents of the practice of conversing with the person on your right hand for half of the dinnertime, followed by giving the person on your left equal time. Fascinating! Really quite civilized, albeit somewhat rigid! BBC4 is a gem. Love it.
Helen Morris: Politeness
Your programme opens up ideas about present day politeness which I suppose could be described as 'in our time'. I am struck by the new rules of interaction on the internet, particularly the recent use of first names between strangers which has become the norm. I don't know whether the use of titles and surnames was invented in the period discussed in today's programme and that we are just reverting to a former informality of speech, or that this type of address is totally new. I remember being very shocked as a child to hear that my grandmother had addressed her parents by their first names instead of calling them Mummy and Daddy back in the 1890's which perhaps suggests that the 1950's were exceptionally formal. Could it have been an effect of the social upheavals of the war? We do find the formal politeness of the wartim public announcement films, so closely copied by Harry Enfield, to be quite laughable these days I suppose.
John Gunn - Politeness
Many thanks Melvin for your newsletter on the politeness programme. I listened to it even more wrapped than usual - which is saying something. I was sorry that dear old Sir Roger de Coverly did not get a mention. I would like to know the names of the contributors, I seem unable to find their names in print anywhere. I'd like, for example to see the book(s?) of the woman who spoke. It will also send me back to that literary hero of mine, Harold Nicolson, whose book 'Good Behaviour' is buried some where in my collection. I look forward to Sartre and whatever comes next.
Eda Smyth: Politeness
I have lately made a point of tuning into Melvyn Bragg when I discovered him by chance discussing some of my pet subjects. Apropos the recent media topic, the demise of Political Correctness, I was struck by the thought that really PC is about politeness. I will regret to see it pass away, after less than a decade. I recently read Arthur Schopenhauer's Essays and Aphorism where he discusses the various virtues in different cultures and epochs. While politeness ranks nowhere in Western cultures and religions in any time or place, in China politeness is the supreme virtue. If we are embarking on the 21st century's era of Chinese Emperialism, I hope our PC-ness will help us aclimatise to the coming change.
Christina Asquith. Politeness.
Dear Melvyn. I was not in the least bit worried that a discussion on politeness would be dull or boring! I have yet to be disappointed an any subject under discussion on In Our Times. Each programme brings it's own fascinating and thought provoking ideas. Once again another riveting edition of In Our Time.
Myra Wheeldon - the cult of politeness.
Just expressing delight and relief to have Melvyn Bragg's mind-streaching programme back. Something worth listening to on familiar and unfamiliar subjects - such a Pleasure to listen to people who know more than I do. May, many thanks.
Robert Giddings, Professor of Culture and Communication, Bournemouth Uni.
Brilliant discussion that covered the ground very well and raised many useful points. The fact that the licensing Act was accidentally not passed in 1695 was spot on, but we should remember the Stamp Act put paid to the "free" journalism of Addison, Steele an co quite early in the 18th century. The Spectator/Tatler quite specifically sought to construct good taste in the arts (e.g. very good on the cult of Italian opera) and were quite political, too. Addison was a Whig and Sir Roger is quite obviously a piss take on the idea of the country Tory squire. Goldsmith, Swift (Polite Conversation, State of Polite Learning in Europe)and others continued this endeavour. I think the next big change came with the effect of political reform, commercial/industrial revolutions that led to a feeling that the traditional class structure was collapsing as power and the ownership of land was threatened by a new economy based on banking, finance, production/consumption and from the 1820s on for next three decades you get for the first time in our culture a series of books, articles, pamphlets on manners and the rules for acceptable social behaviour so that superior persons could demonstrate status. These are major themes in 19th century fiction e.g. Great Expectations, Middlemarch. Melvyn Bragg's last programme was admirable in the deft way the discussion was conducted to be at once entertaining yet at the same time packed with such informed and stimulating insight. Thank goodness for BBC Radio 4.
ali kriwald politeness
I thought this week's topic absolutely riveting! Very well debated, extremely informative and so interesting. I wonder if a book exists that would encapsultate the many interesting points made today?! Well done everyone!(I love Radio 4 but have never felt moved enough to write in before now!)
léo burton: politeness in britanny
here, there are well-observed manners which do not seem to be based on rules handed down from on high. males greet males by shaking hands, females and males either shake hands or exchange kisses, but the number of kisses varies according to relationship and context...nobody can state any rule, but people are displeased if one gets it wrong....it may be "games people play", but having seen people automatically exchange handshakes after being involved in an accident, the alleviation of hostilitys in everyday life is obvious
Michael Flint : The Cult of Politeness
As usual, Amanda Vickery was a delight to listen to. Her contributions (particularly the last one in the programme)should be made into a TV documentary, with actors portraying what she described. I cannot think of a more interesting social historian and attractive broadcaster than Ms Vickery.
Alan Mills
I loved the comment that the gentleman is defined as not being the pedant. Sent this directly to a friend who is always correcting my mixed metaphors!
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