Minding manners in public

Long ago, cellular phones were not objects of necessity. Back when beepers were more convenient, mobile phones were bulky and a hassle to bring. Life was easier then. Everybody knew what privacy was.

The right to privacy is the inherent right on an individual to be let alone. However, with the advent of technology, this concept is constantly blurring by the moment. It is now easy for individuals to invade your privacy with a trusty gadget, which we all know by the name of cellphone. A majority of its models include a camera feature with optimized lenses bearing an adequate number of megapixels amounting to photos and videos with high resolution.

Its add-on may be music to the ears but it may be dangerous to one’s space.

We all know the story of Paula Salvosa, more popularly known as “Amalayer”. For days her infamous squabble with the lady guard at the Santolan LRT station flooded the news and the internet. Months back, we witnessed how a driver berated a traffic enforcer along Capitol Hills Drive in Quezon City. Both were bullied and harassed by netizens judging from the comments we read. The former testified how the humiliation destroyed her life. She chose not to go to school and is still afraid to go out alone.

The public has eyes that can see very well. People watch you from a distance and talk about you in an instant. All these events fell into the hands of the public because of how fast technology runs.

But if we take a quick backtrack on the reason behind their public shame, we come to a common denominator - manners. Both did not manifest good manners in public places.

We all have our reasons for losing our temper especially when on the run. For all we know, the two came from a stressful turn out. Or maybe they could be running late for class or work. We do not really know what they went through before it all happened. Yet, this does not give them an excuse to echo their stress to other people.

Salvosa lost it, Carabuena did too. It was all because they were not patient. Their manners were all over the place.

People around you are just as worthy of respect as you do too. No matter how shabby, old, young, degrading or even below your status in life, they are people too so show respect.

Furthermore, English is not the basis of your wisdom and educational attainment. Language comes from the mouth but words do not. You cannot belittle someone and tell him or her off just because you went to school.

Lastly, when you are about to lose it, keep it to yourself. The eyes that could defame you do not know how to collect all the sides of the story. If you keep on invoking your rights to scream, shout and squeal in public, you have also stepped on the rights of others to stroll in public peacefully.

Remember, when you go out of any big door you share the same air and road with the other citizens of the Philippines.