On Saying Please: ASSEB (AHSEC) Class 11 Alternative English notes
Where was Alfred G Gardiner born?
Essex, England is the place where Alfred G. Gardiner was born.
Is discourtesy a legal offence?
No, discourtesy is not a legal offence
Which literary period did John Keats belong to?
John Keats belonged to the Romantic Period.
What effect has the war had on the niceties and civilities of life?
The war had Chilling effect on the niceties and civilities of life.
Whom does Gardiner 'feature' in his essay as a perfect example of polite social behaviour?
Gardiner 'feature' the bus-conductor in his essay as a perfect example of polite social behaviour.
Why did the young lift-man in the city office throw the passenger out of his lift?
Because the passenger refused to say "please," the young lift operator threw the passenger out of his lift.
What does the law say with regard to 'discourtesy'?
‘Discourtesy’ does not excuse assault and battery, and it is not a legal offence.
What would happen if we were at liberty to physically assault someone just because any aspect of his demeanour is unacceptable to us?
According to Gardiner, if we had the freedom to physically assault someone because we disagreed with something about their demeanor, then our fists would never be idle and the city's gutters would flow with blood throughout the day.
What is the penalty for a person for being uncivil?
According to Gardiner, the only penalty for being uncivil is to be referred to as an unruly fellow, and there is no legal punishment for being uncivil.
What happened to Gardiner one day when he sat reading on the top of a bus?
When Gardiner was reading on top of a bus one day, his most sensitive toe was heavily trampled on.
How does a "pain of a wound to our self-respect"
linger on?
The "pain of a wound to our self-respect" lingers because it does not go away quickly like a physical pain and we keep revisiting it in our heads repeatedly. A physical ache passes once the wound heals and the pain subsides.
When someone physically harms us, we can even get legal help, but when someone insults us, we have no legal recourse, so the "pain of a wound to our self-respect" lasts longer.
What kind of victory is preferable? How would the lift-man have scored a more effective victory?
According to Gardiner, the best outcome is a moral victory, or victory over one's own rage. If the lift operator had treated the gentleman with elaborate politeness, he would have achieved a more successful victory. He would have won, and that victory is what matters, not only over the boor but also over himself. The gentleman may lose the advantage in material things, but he always wins spiritually.
What prompts Gardiner to heap praises on the bus-conductor?
Gardiner heaps praise on the bus conductor because he once found himself in a tangled situation when he forgot the bus fare at home and was afraid he would come across as a fool or a knave. However, the conductor's jovial demeanor made the awkward situation more bearable and made Gardiner happy. The conductor graciously gave Gardiner a free ticket and didn't make a big deal about Gardiner not having the fair. Gardiner finally found a shilling in his pocket to pay the conductor, but the conductor's politeness and generosity stuck with him.
"Please and thank you are the small change with which we pay our way as social beings". Explain.
While narrating the incident in which the lift worker threw the passenger out, Gardiner states that, despite the fact that there is no law requiring us to say "Please," there is a social practice that is much older and more sacred than any law that requires us to be civil. He asserts that recognizing a service is the first requirement of civility. The phrases "Please" and "Thank You" then become the minuscule change we use to support ourselves as social beings. They are the small acts of kindness that keep the life machine running smoothly.
Instead of superiors dictating to subordinates, they made our interactions based on friendly cooperation and simple giving and receiving. Through these lines, Gardiner investigates the issue of politeness as a crucial and essential component of civil society. He argues that civility
is what keeps a civilized man's social life running smoothly.
Write in your own words, the incident in the bus involving the bus conductor and the author.
When Gardiner hopped on a bus one day, he discovered that he had left home without any cash. According to Gardiner, everyone has experienced the mixed emotions brought on by this discovery. One feels irritated because one appears to be a fool at best and a knave at worst.
Gardiner told the conductor as politely as he could that he would not be able to pay the fare and that he had to get off the bus after he unsuccessfully searched his pockets. Instead of being enraged or sarcastic, the conductor graciously offered to give him a ticket to any destination he desired. Gardiner thanked him for his kindness and inquired where he could send the fare in the future. Gardiner could pay the conductor when he saw him again, the conductor said.
Comments
Post a Comment