It is always very important to remember your personal etiquette. It is a very important quality in a person. It is also a good idea to be nice to other people unless there is just cause for a person to act in a less than nice manner. For example, I define myself as a vengeful person, I do not usually forgive and forget, I usually get even. I am aware that this might not be the right or what others may perceive as the proper way to live, but hey we are all human, nobody is perfect, and we all have our flaws. Of course, some flaws that some people possess may be worse or different than others, but usually there are no two people that are exactly the same. There are different ways that people react to others that have wronged them or have said something offensive. Myself for example, within recent years, I have met quite a bit of criticism, which has mainly revolved around my military service, and the part I took during my service in Iraq. I would usually utilize a show of force, in most cases somebody would bleed. More currently I have found myself trying to set a good example for my young son, so instead of beating the living hell out of a person who wrongs me, I will ignore the criticism while my son is watching. But when he is not looking all hell has a possibility of breaking loose. The following will list a set of general etiquette guidelines that may just save a person’s life someday.

1. Always be nice to people that are handling your food.

2. Never tell an Iraq War veteran that the United States only invaded Iraq for their oil. (Getting really tired of hearing this)

3. Be nice to all people, especially the people that fit into the classifications of a “dork, nerd, or book worm”, mainly because in the future, these are the people that have much money, and are employing us all. Except for me, I was a dork in high school, and I’m broker than a day time hooker.

4. Always return your shopping buggies to the proper place while shopping at the grocery store. (just a pet peeve)

5. Never be rude or mean to people that are uninformed. There is a huge difference between being uninformed and being stupid. Treat stupid people however you deem necessary.

6. If you are the size of an Oldsmobile, do not dress like an anorexic hooker. (see your local 24 hour department / grocery store)

7. Be nice to “rednecks” it’s all fun and games until you need your car worked on.

8. Just because a person talks slow do not automatically assume they are stupid.

9. Don’t be a total jerk to people and wonder why everyone hates you.

10. Treat people the way, the individual in question treats you.

11. Always open doors for elderly people.

12. When speaking with elderly folks, always be polite and use the terms Ma’am and Sir. After all, would you want anyone being rude to your parents or grandparents?

In reference to a few of these “unofficial guidelines” I feel that I must explain what I basically feel is the proper way to define some of these statements, and explain to the reader, how you would feel in a similar situation. In reference to number one, if you were working in a restaurant busting your rump just to earn a paycheck, how would you feel if you were treated as inferior, or made to think you are stupid or less than human? News flash people, everyone makes mistakes, I have defiantly made my share of mistakes. At least people that are working a minimum wage job in a restaurant, at least it is honest work. To be frank, some restaurant workers would spit or do something nasty to your food. Me on the other hand, I would poison your uptight snobby ass.

In reference to number two, telling an Iraq War Veteran that the United States only invaded Iraq for their oil, this is very insulting and personally I’m getting very tired of hearing this rubbish. If you did not serve directly in Iraq, or your life has not been impacted by anyway from this war, you do not have any right to form or state an opinion. I say this because people that did not fight this war, especially all of those people that were protesting the war, is about as equivalent as me trying to say I am a famous surgeon or rocket scientist. I have seen people die, and I have lost friends over there, and I assure you it was not over oil. To some of those people that refuse to believe otherwise, I would like to ask, where the oil that the United States allegedly stole is. To say that the United States only invaded Iraq for its oil, would imply that many troops lost their lives, and those that received lifelong injuries, all happened in vain. I assure you, our troops did not fight, die and get injured in vain, it all happened to protect the freedoms that so many people take for granted. Also, all of these people that claim that President George W. Bush should be prosecuted for war crimes due to the belief that President Bush invaded Iraq without Congressional approval, I have news for you, you are an idiot. President Bush had the approval of the United States Congress to invade Iraq in October 2002. In addition, some media resources will show that American Forces upon invading Iraq, took immediate control of the oilfields, and posted guards on oil platforms, this is a total lie, this never happened. I was part of the invading forces. So, if you did not serve in Iraq, keep your opinion to yourself, because you know absolutely nothing about this war. American troops have fought and died throughout history to give the American people their basic rights, that are stated in our Constitution, and more specifically American troops have given their lives and suffered severe injuries protecting the Bill of Rights, and have given some groups of people the unfortunate right to say and do some of the stupid things some of these Iraq War protesters have done. So basically, if you did not serve in Iraq or any combat theater, stick a sock in your pie hole, and shut the hell up.

In reference to number three, yes be nice to dorks, nerds, etc. Mainly because someday, you are going to want a job, and it is going to be these people that you made fun of in high school that are going to be the main employers. Also, many of these people will become successful doctors and lawyers. Ask yourself this question, if you get sick and need a doctor or are having legal issues and need a lawyer, do you want to see one with a grudge? I wouldn’t, in fact if it were me, I always hold grudges and I would do this person as dirty as possible, without letting them know about it of course. That is just my sociopathic tendencies speaking though. If I were the doctor, I’d say sorry dude, you’re just going to have to suffer, or if I were a lawyer, I’d just tell the person in question, “sorry your dumb ass is going to jail”.

In reference to number four. What kind of lazy dipstick of a person does not return their shopping buggy? Enough said on that subject.

In reference to number five, there is no earthly need to be rude or disrespectful to people that are uniformed. Try to educate a person before belittling them, make an all-out attempt to educate a person who may not have the proper knowledge that they need to get by. I am in no way endorsing or promoting the act of shoving your beliefs down a person’s throat, but if a person is stupid, then there is most likely nothing that can be done, because stupidity is not something that can be mended easily, and at times stupidity can be contagious, so proceed with caution.

In reference to number six, go to your local 24-hour department/grocery store between the hours of 12 A.M. to 4 A.M. and you will know what I mean. I am unable to exercise like I used to, due to injuries that were sustained in Iraq, so with this being said, due to conditions and a few medications, I have put on a few extra pounds. So, the VA sent me to see a dietitian. This lady was the size of an extra-large horse, and the whole time she was telling me that I need to eat right, she was chugging down a one-liter bottle of soda pop and scarfing down a family sized bag of tater chips. I stood up, I stated that I’ve heard enough and have been cured, and I walked out, besides I believe she was getting ready for her lunch break anyway.

In reference to number seven and eight, some people like to make fun of rednecks, until they need their car fixed. Enough said on that. Also, if somebody does not talk or act at the speed you do, get over yourself, you’re an ass.

In reference to number nine, if you are hated everywhere you go, odds are the problem is not everybody else. The problem is you…… You might want to change your ways, before encountering somebody such as myself.

In reference to number ten, treat everybody nicely and with respect, until the individual gives you reason not to. With this being said, do not under any circumstances allow yourself to be a “punching bag” and never allow yourself to be walked on. Stand up for yourself and prove to the world that you can and will achieve any goal you set your mind to, and if anybody gets in your way, their injuries are their own fault.

In reference to numbers eleven and twelve, I simply ask the question, how you would feel if your parents or grandparents were disrespected in any manner. My Grandfather is the rock of our family, and if anyone ever disrespected him in anyway, the person in question would have hell to pay. The main moral for these two guidelines is, people especially the elderly have faced many challenges throughout their lives, many of which the common ordinary person could never fathom. For example, WWII Veterans (America’s greatest generation) have seen things that most people have never even seen in their nightmares. Also, many elderly people have lived through situations such as the Great Depression. To be more specific, coal miners from the 1930’s through the 1950’s really earned their money, and many were paid in company script, so this was basically a legal form of slavery.

So, I really hope that the guidelines that I mentioned in this chapter can really help out someone, or at the very least keep them alive, and functioning. But all in all, my main intention is to educate and inform, so people know not to make these mistakes, and if somebody does purposely violate these guidelines, just know what the consequences could possibly be, they could be severe, or they could be mild. Just my opinion, why chance it?