| ||
| ||
| ||
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yellow card for bad behavior?
By Nick Easen
(CNN) -- Many traveling for business consider in-flight flatulence to be one of the worst crimes in the sky, or maybe its pushing and shoving in the aisles. You can't throw the wrongdoer out the window at 30,000 feet, or easily discuss the vile behavior in question, so how do you deal with the offender? Hand them a yellow card entitled: "You are behaving badly, for more information go to Civilcity.org," that's how. After receiving the card offenders in question can learn and discuss why their behavior was rude at the website www.civilcity.org, some even go as far as offering an apology online. The main aim of Civilcity, which started the courtesy cards back in March 2003, was to create a "constructive way to confront rude strangers without creating further conflict." This New York-based organization has attracted a lot of interest since its launch and airplane travel is just one of the areas where the organization expects good manners. "The two points of etiquette that we currently address regarding air travel are the use of cell phones in enclosed spaces, say immediately after landing when fellow passengers are within earshot and the all-too-common phenomena of people rushing the gate at boarding before their row is called," Oltman-Smith of Civil City told CNN. "I personally feel that the gate issue is the worst one confronted by travelers, because it creates a completely unnecessary atmosphere of confusion and stress for all involved," she said. More than 3,000 cards have already been handed out for bad behavior, according to the founder Joanna Oltman-Smith, although many have been timid in coming forth. "People are very eager to share their opinions as to what forms of bad behavior they think should be highlighted on the site...[although when] it comes to actually taking the plunge and ordering the cards, people seem to be shy," says the founder. Civilcity now has customers all over the U.S. and is hoping to partner with city governments and civic groups, as well as distribute the cards for free in public places. They put their success down to an increasing interest in manners, respect and improved human interaction. "It's exciting to see the way people are eager to get personally involved in this small way towards making their communities better," says Oltman-Smith. The website also encourages people to purchase decorated cards online, costing $6.99 for 100.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
