In the past few weeks here in The Pacer, I have noticed that a lot of people have been talking about rude people, or rude actions they make. I decided to contribute my own thoughts.

Rudeness is a major problem that I see in today’s society. I should know, I handle it every day. I am a manager at the McDonald’s here in Martin, and that means anytime there is a complaint, I handle them (along with eight other members of our management team).

I understand people coming in with the incorrect order can be rude, by all means they should be, but there are others that come into the store that haven’t even ordered yet that are rude, and of course decide to take it out on us.

True, most customers come in and order things in a very civil manner, but I have had some that were in such a huff that when I gave them their bag, they jerked it so hard my hand nearly went with it.

After working in a people-oriented business for so long, I have asked myself whatever happened to common courtesy or decency.

When people get to be so rude as to shred napkins and throw them on the floor just for fun, you are forced to wonder.

My complaint goes far beyond McD’s, though. Even on the UTM campus, we all experience rude people.

I think it is a common courtesy to your fellow student to hold the door open for someone as they walk in or out so the other person isn’t hit by the door. I try to do this whenever I can.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for everyone. I actually was walking into a building where a guy was going through the door and was holding it for someone, and told me “Do you actually think I am holding this open for you?”

After reading the opinions from last week, I agree that there are several rude behaviors that annoy all of us. They are too numerous to mention.

What I fail to understand is why one would want to be that mean. A simple “Please” and “Thank You” would be nice. At McDonald’s, we are trained that the customer is the boss, and we don't want to hear “You’re Fired”, we want to hear “I’ll be back.” Our slogan is also “We Love to See You Smile.” We really do. It can make a bad day go well by just seeing a smile.

If your friend is having a bad day, I’m sure that he’d much rather see a warm smile than a rude tongue.

I also agree that you should tip your service workers, and tip them well. I always tip the pizza guy, my waiter (By the way, the accepted tip rate is currently 15-20 percent), my hair stylist, even the carhop at Sonic.

This is considered polite, and honestly, I think they deserve a little extra for doing a good job.

Waiting on me hand-and-foot is quite a job, and I just want to say to all service people out there, thank you.

Oh, and one other thing I have noticed: I have to plan on calling and asking the mayor about when University Ave. became Daytona. I was driving in the OUTSIDE lane of University Ave. the other day, and came down by Mt. Pelia, the street by Elam Center and the Fine Arts Building.

A car pulled out, and instead of just staying on the inside lane, which was perfectly clear at the time, decided to try and run me off the road so that she could have the outside lane.

To this driver, I apologize that I was invading your space. Traffic not only on the street but in the parking lots is atrocious. I don’t think that it is people not knowing how to drive; I think it is people getting in a rush to get that spot.

As my English professor Tim Hacker says, “Buying a parking permit is about like buying a hunting license: It only gives you the right to attempt to find a place to park.”

So, what does all of this mean? Simple. Be nice! Hold the door for your fellow student. Tip the pizza guy. Smile. Use thank you’s and you’re welcome’s. Relearn defensive, not offensive, driving.

These few things are things we can all do to improve the attitude of life here not only in Martin, but in our world.

Anthony Jones is a freshman Computer Science major from Dresden.