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Civility - Recent Articles, Annotated

Connelly, Julie.   "Have We Become Mad Dogs in the Office?", Fortune, November 28, 1994, p.197-199.

      "Civility is simply treating others with respect - otherwise known as courtesy". How we treat co-workers and subordinates has deteriorated.   Manners and pleasantries are neglected because we are too busy or too stressed.   Top cause of heightened incivility is fallout from re-engineering.   Points to a 1993 survey by the Society of Human Resources Management that reveals occurrences of violent acts (fistfights, throwing things) by employees since 1989, with more than 80% since 1991.

Hamill, Pete.   "End Game; Social Breakdown in the U.S.", Esquire, December 1994, p.85+.

      Does a great job of describing how we've become such an in-your-face society.   Effectively drives the point home by employing the offensive language that it condemns.   Caution, will offend gentle souls.

Leo, John.   "Foul Words, Foul Culture", U.S. News & World Report, April 22, 1996, p.73.

      When it comes to foul mouths, pushing the envelope is becoming expected of television, while TV executives say they are just "reflecting society".   This declining level of civility is obvious in large advertisers' aggressive, assaultive advertising with narcissistic rule-breaking messages.   Our culture celebrates impulse over restraint, notoriety over achievement, rule breaking over rule keeping, and incendiary expression over minimal civility.   What to do?   The author asks us to consider zero tolerance of this behavior.

King, Florence.   "Wilted Collars", National Review, May 16, 1994, p.80.

      Has American diversity and democracy left us with no common ground but the lowest common denominator - the bathroom joke?   Anyone who points to a lapse in etiquette is told to "lighten up". Loutishness victimizes women the most.   Says that the most ignored form of civility is that of being clear and concise.

Oddey, Graham.   "Crowned, But Not King", Managing Service Quality, July 1993, p.15-16.

      Although it describes incidences in England, the article rings true for the U.S.   Questions how far to take the slogan "Customer is King".   Has the push to great customer service bred a rash of customer incivility?   Asks us to consider a basic rule of "civility-but not servility".

Strenski, Ivan.   "Recapturing the Values That Promote Civility on Campuses", Chronicle of Higher Education, June 23, 1993, p.A36.

      Yes, alas, in academe too.

Block, Peter.   Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self-Interest.   Berrett-Koehler, 1993.
Covey, Stephen.   Principle-Centered Leadership.   Simon & Schuster, 1992.
Maynard, Herman Bryant Jr.   The Fourth Wave: Business in the Twenty-First Century.
        Berrett-Koehler, 1993.
Orsborn, Carol.   Inner Excellence: Spiritual Principles of Life-Driven Business.
        New World Library, 1992.
Peck, M. Scott.   A World Waiting To Be Born:   Rediscovering Civility.   Bantam, 1993.
Rusk, Tom.   The Power of Ethical Persuasion; Winning Through Understanding At Work
        & At Home.   Viking Penguin, 1994.
Stoddard, Alexandra.   Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty,
        & Joy to Every Day of Your Life.   Random House, 1996.

Compiled and Reviewed by Eloisa Gomez Borah, May 1996.