Lounging across the iconic green seats of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg looked far from engaged in Tuesday’s fierce late-night debate.
The Conservative Leader of the House of Commons certainly raised some eyebrows and he was widely mocked for not taking the proceedings seriously.
But is Rees-Mogg’s behaviour confirmation of the theory that good manners have gone out of the window in today’s society, or was he just a bit tired?
Take our quiz on the rules of modern-day manners by Ladette to Lady’s etiquette expert, Liz Brewer, to see if you are badly behaved, or perfectly polite…
1 You’ve been invited to a wedding but can’t go. Do you still need to buy a gift?
a RSVP after the wedding, having not sent a gift
b RSVP before the wedding and don’t give a gift
c RSVP before the wedding and send a gift
2 You’re passing by a friend’s house and want to pop in to say hello. Do you warn them?
a Possibly, in an emergency
b Never
c Always
3 You’re handed the bill at the end of a hearty meal. But how do you decide who pays?
a Leave before the bill comes
b The person who does the inviting should pay the bill
c Share the bill
4 You’ve arranged to go for dinner with a friend, but are expecting an important phone call. What do you do?
a Warn your host. Have your phone on vibrate and leave the room to take the call
b Keep your phone on the table but leave the room to take the call
c Keep your phone on, placed on the dining table and take the call
5 You’ve had a bad day at work and want to vent. Should you share your problems openly on social media?
b Yes, marked public
b Just to your own friends
c Never
6 You’ve been invited for dinner. What do you take as a gift for your hosts?
a A bottle of wine given to you by a friend
b Good chocolates
c Flowers
7 Your relationship isn’t working out anymore. You’re too scared to tell them to their face. Is it okay to break up over text?
a Never
b Yes with an explanation
c Yes without an explanation
8 You pose for a photo with your friend while out together. But although you look nice, they don’t look their best. Should you post it on social media?
a Post it to remember the occasion. As long as you look good, it doesn’t matter
b Warn them that you are posting it and that you’ve done your best to edit it
c Delete it
9 You’ve had a great first date and can’t wait to see them again. How long should you wait before messaging a new love interest?
a Immediately, to arrange another date with them
b The following day, after you’ve announced it on social media
c If you initiated the date you need to wait until they make contact. If they did, send them a sincere thank you after a couple of days
10 You’re trying to get on with your work but your colleague is being too loud. How do you tell them to be quiet?
a Explain you’re trying hard to concentrate and ask them to please lower the sound
b Turn your own sounds up to compete
c Leave the room
Check your answers here
1 a 0 b 1 c 2 If you’ve been invited to the wedding then you must be a good friend as guest lists are often limited nowadays. So, good notice and a gift should always be given.
2 a 1 b 0 c 2 Never turn up at somebody’s house without giving them notice as they might be caught off-guard and still in their pyjamas. Just a quick phone call will do the job.
3 a 0 b 2 c 1 It all depends on who invited whom to the meal. If you invite someone, then you are obliged to pay. However, if it’s not a direct invitation, then everybody pays for themselves.
4 a 2 b 1 c 0 Emergencies can’t be helped. But it’s impolite to be attached to your phone while in the company of others. The people you are with deserve more attention than those at the end of a phone.
5 a 0 b 1 c 2 It can be tempting to divulge your grievances on social media. But it’s better etiquette to keep your private life private. You never know who is watching.
6 a 0 b 2 c 1 Flowers may seem like the most obvious option but the host would have to interrupt the gathering to put them in water. So a good box of chocolates is the perfect solution. Avoid old wine at all costs – bad wine really does get passed around!
7 a 2 b 1 c 0 If you have been dating a person then you owe them the courtesy of ending things face to face. It might be awkward but you’ll both feel a lot better for it.
8 a 0 b 1 c 2 We’re so used to documenting everything online that we may not consider other people’s feelings. But it’s more important to keep your friends happy than your followers.
9 a 0 b 1 c 2 If you really like someone then it’s best to play it cool. Give them a bit of time to process the date and decide whether they would like to see you again too.
10 a 2 b 0 c 1 Your colleague may not know that you are on a tight deadline or struggling to concentrate. It’s best to make them aware of the situation so they can help.
Source: Read Full Article