What Social Conduct?
I encountered a very rude awakening the other day. An old acquaintance of mine happened to be interning at the local papers and she called and said “Hey, let’s do an interview for a feature”. I run an online store and I guess it was a point of interest for her and I can’t deny the obvious benefits for my store to be featured in the Sunday papers to I agreed.
From the get-go I was so shocked at how this girl went about conducting her business. No polite “are-you-free-to-entertain-my-questions”, “sorry-to-trouble-you” or any other polite social beginnings of a conversation where you are imposing on a person. Furthermore, she expected me to meet her at HER convenience for her to take pictures of my merchandise but was not pro-active in securing an appointment, simply leaving me hanging, waiting to appear on her command. I finally asked her when she wanted to meet-up only to be surprised with an “Oh! I don’t need the pictures anymore.” and a decidedly unapologetic apology.
Surprise, surprise. Come Sunday, I read the article but not a whisper of my business. I was simply dropped! No forewarning, no preambles… plain and simply snubbed. Imagine my anger… here I am, pushing my patience to its utmost limit with the sole condolence of the benefits entertaining her will reap only to find out that my information was not credited. I was clearly just a stepping stone.
After a few harsh messages borne from the build up of frustration, all I got in reply was another unapologetic apology and reasons stating that “that’s the real world of reporting for you” and it’s “(her) job is to serve readers not credit who (she) speaks to”. The second part I fully understand. I am by no means an unreasonable person as long as there’s a logical explanation. She has to deliver to her target market and this is how she feels is the best way to do it. That, I respect.
But is fulfilling your duty above proper social conduct? Can your line of work abstain you from social morals? By saying that this is the real world of reporting, I cannot help but wonder… have reporters become so scrupulous in obtaining that one break to differentiate themselves as a journalist that they simply step on everyone carelessly to climb up to attain the much sought after nirvana of the journalism world? Or have I become too “educated”, for lack of a better word, in the areas of providing good service in every aspect of my life that I simply expect everyone to follow this decorum? I honestly feel that it’s so simple to drop an “I’m so sorry to trouble you again” or a “thanks so much for all your help”. Very few people always mean it when they say it but this flow of propriety just creates a bubble that results in anyone who comes into contact with it becoming more agreeable and amiable. Not to mention it buffers negative feelings.
Has our society become too fast paced that we just cannot be bothered with proper social conduct?