₦airaland Forum

5. Not Having Situational Awareness
As big as the world is, we should still have an awareness of everything around us. Especially when we see people who clearly need help – an old woman carrying a bunch of grocery bags, or a new guy in town who looks a little lost. It’s in our nature to help out.

When it comes to situational awareness, there’s no more dramatic example than when Peter Parker’s uncle died in the 2002 Spider-Man film. It’s a tragic scene – one minute Peter lets a criminal escape out of revenge, and the next minute that criminal shoots his uncle. The line “I missed the part where that’s my problem” couldn’t have been more ironic.

But that was Peter’s turning point. He realized he had a responsibility that was bigger than himself. And like him, we all share a responsibility for our environment. Making someone’s (particularly a stranger’s) life easier out of kindness – that’s the sign of a true, well-mannered gentleman.

4. Not Being Punctual
My time in the a boy's secondary that had a white man as principal (late rev jdo connel) has taught me the value of punctuality. Yes, it’s a good habit on its own and it lessens those stressful mornings when you’re in a rush. But it’s not primarily for you – but for the other person.

The truth is when you’re late, you’re wasting someone else’s time. That person has done their part to meet you at a time you both agreed on. So even if it’s unintentional – making them wait is like ripping them off. You’re not robbing them of cash but of something more valuable… their time.

I recommend being 10 to 15 minutes early to anything. That being said, if it turns out you have to be late – always have the courtesy to call or text the other person. The sooner they know about it, the better. Otherwise, it’s only going to hurt your reputation in the long run.

3. Not Practicing Good Manners At Home
People underestimate how much influence their habits at home have. If you’re not making an effort to stop picking your nose at home, you’re likely to unknowingly do it in public. I, unfortunately, know people who do – and I don’t like shaking their hands!

Good manners should start at home. You can’t insist on having this “switch” that you’ll remember to flip once you leave the house. Habits are either there or not there – learned or unlearned. We’re not programmed to just turn them on and off.

1. Making Your Phone More Important Than People
In this day and age, we’re so immersed in instant connectivity that it affects our face-to-face communication. It sadly looks like many of us give our phones (or other gadgets) priority over people in our presence.

The worst part is when you’re in the middle of a conversation and you hear your phone ring. There are times it’s some random call from a company trying to sell you something – but you get the urge to answer anyway. So I suggest that you set the phone to silent mode (or even turn it off) whenever you’re engaging with someone for a while.

Of course, there’s an exception if you’re legitimately expecting a call – work-related matters, family emergencies, your pregnant wife is due, etc. Remember to politely excuse yourself, keep the call brief and join back in if there’s nothing urgent. The last thing you want is to put the current conversation on hold for another one that takes just as long.

But in all other cases when you interact with family or friends, they deserve your full attention. Check out this powerful speech on YouTube that sums up the downsides of modern technology – how it has made us “more selfish and separate than ever” in a way. So learn to put aside and not think about your phone or Facebook. You’re not meant to live FOR them.

2. Saying Something Online That You Wouldn’t Say In Person
You might think of the World Wide Web as an alternate reality, but it’s just a platform to expose yourself to the real world – and masses of REAL people. Don’t be naïve to think whatever you post online won’t come back to bite you.

Back in 2013, a woman who was head of corporate communications for a New York-based Internet company (of all things!) put out a racist Tweet about AIDS before flying to South Africa for vacation. It only took the span of that 11-hour flight for her “joke” to go viral and turn her into a notorious public figure. She came back home and was fired.

Granted, that’s a pretty extreme example. Most of you wouldn’t think to do something like that. But the message there is clear: once someone else sees what you post, there’s no taking it back. It doesn't have to be in social media – it can be any email or text that you don’t write carefully.

Here’s the golden rule about communicating with your device – always ask if it’s something you’d have the courage to say face-to-face. That rules out hateful or derogatory posts. That means when you discuss sensitive issues, you have to choose your words wisely.

Just take a look at this past presidential election and all the fights it caused online. People were unfriending each other – and that obviously affected their relationships offline. So always triple-check whatever you’re about to post (and try saying it out loud).

I can't read this long epistles

ikennamadu1:
Why u no dey understand something.. naa EU abi naa inec dey pay u

Who ever the fvck that is suppose to pay should pay

CaptainMitch:
My cousins got all their baby formula from US, I don't think it's possible to order cooked food from abroad , the logistics is something else, Buhari has been disastrous in appointments. Only canned food will last that long.

You just busted his stupid lies.... No be only beans from Ghana na Zimbabwe

Lies.... Let them pay our election allowances first

Very good

Pdp power ....super uppercut blow to the party of broom waving illiterates.... When an incumbent loses it shows alot of underdevelopment, and non functionalism.....buhari will soon go home

Pdp all the way

Hardly you see Muslim give charity to non Muslim

At 67 see how drugs has made him look like a malnourished toad

Very nice joke

Buhari has the worst government ever... Mr integrity my left balls

Iceking1:
Am in Delta state, so hw do u want it to look like

henrysimplicity90@gmail
.com

Iceking1:
I have a penis enlargement Manual and a penis extender device for sale, if you are interested let me knw... Tank's

I'm in Abuja and I'm interested

LabUdegbe:
that line gat me real hard. Broz take it easy oo..

Most of them celebrities acts senseless and annimalistic

Instead of quietly doing what he was asked to do he's on social media seeking fame and validation till they seize the visa completely that's when he will be humbled......stupid animal

Islamic activities

What's buharis business with the National Assembly

Tinubu is a very sick man let's pray he's strong enough to live till 2020 nigga ain't fit /healthy at all

tesppidd:
is your monthly salary not #8,500.

I earn and feed well more than your whole family combined

People on 30k payroll....trained to be brainless and to always chun lies and propaganda

30k

Last year there were a lot of federal government and security agencies screening aside of police how many other recruitment came to fruition??

Mcreloaded:
That's an insult to animals.
Gathering of criminals describes them better

���

Real Man

Gathering of animals

He'll yoke them and collect his money in another way... This is Nigeria... Igbo man for that matter

Stupid oppurturnist.....all of them go begin wan use her shine with little donations like they always do and like how they did to success