It Is, Indeed, A Trial

One Should Not Be Assigned One's Identity In Society By The Job Slot One Happens To Fill. If We Truly Believe In The Dignity Of Labor, Any Task Can Be Performed With Equal Pride Because None Can Demean The Basic Dignity Of A Human Being.

Appearing To Pay Attention When Someone Is Speaking Is One Of The Cornerstones Of Real Social Interaction.

You Glance At An E-mail. You Give More Attention To A Real Letter.

Knowing That Others Have Gone Through Similar Tragedies May Be A Help, But It Should Be Remembered That Every Tragedy Is Not Only Commonplace But Also Unique.

Shame Is The Proper Reaction When One Has Purposefully Violated The Accepted Behavior Of Society. Inflicting It Is Etiquette's Response When Its Rules Are Disobeyed. The Law Has All Kinds Of Nasty Ways Of Retaliating When It Is Disregarded, But Etiquette Has Only A Sense Of Social Shame To Deter People From Treating Others In Ways They Know Are Wrong. So Naturally Miss Manners Wants To Maintain The Sense Of Shame. Some Forms Of Discomfort Are Fully Justified, And The Person Who Feels Shame Ought To Be Dealing With Removing Its Causes Rather Than Seeking To Relieve The Symptoms.