Aussie etiquette on dog poo in bins, plane seats, going barefoot, parking and public music
Australia, it’s time to mind your manners. This is the message from Sydney’s greatest etiquette experts.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Australia, it’s time to mind your manners. This is the message of Sydney’s greatest etiquette experts who are watching – but never staring – as Australians slouch their way into rudeness. If you ask etiquette coach Val Edwards, manners will always matter – “without them, society wouldn’t function,” she said.
Sydney mum Jesse-Tayla Laverack agrees, and plans to make sure her daughter Kelissa has great manners and understands proper etiquette.
She said good manners are more important than ever.
“It’s always nice to see people just find small ways to be polite, I find it really nice and it makes my day,” she said.
Her pet peeve: “I hate when I am talking to someone and they are chewing gum obnoxiously.”
So should you put your seat back on a plane? Is it rude to put your prawn heads in your neighbour’s bin? Is it sacrilegious to be on the phone when ordering a coffee?
Sit up straight, tuck in your shirt, and listen carefully. We consulted an etiquette expert to brush up on exactly what is – and is no longer – acceptable.
Putting your seat back on a plane
To lean or not to lean, that is the question. According to Val, timing is everything.
“I don’t think putting your seat back in itself is rude, but timing is the priority,” she said.
You don’t put your seat back when the food is about to arrive or be delivered because it will upset people.”
For bonus points, Val recommends asking permission before leaning back.
“It’s nice to ask people’s permission first and don’t put your seat all the way back,” she said.
And if they say no, “don’t get aggro over it”.
Going barefoot in public
Australians love ditching their shoes and trotting down the street with their soles out.
Some call it “grounding”. Others call it disgusting.
If you ask Val, it all depends on time and place; going barefoot near the beach, okay. In the city. Big no-no.
“I would not walk down the main street in the city or in their suburb. But if you’re just going up from the beach to buy a drink, even to hydrate yourself, that’s fine.”
Preening on public transport
We have all been there. Running late for work, there’s a temptation to simply do your hair and makeup on the bus or train.
Val’s a reasonable gal, she gets it. She’s even done it herself. But there are limits.
“It’s quite acceptable to have a little compact mirror to powder your cheeks or pop a bit of eyeshadow on and fix your lipstick.”
But if you start brushing your hair or, god-forbid, clipping your nails, watch out. That’s a cardinal sin in Val’s eyes.
Should you wave when someone lets you in traffic?
Always give a pleasant hand sign when someone lets you in traffic, said Val.
The majority don’t anymore, but you always should. It is a matter of courtesy.
Returning your shopping trolley
If you use it, put it back. Ditching your shopping trolley once you have gotten to your car is a big no-no.
“If you leave it in the back behind someone’s car, they might reverse into it. It’s definitely correct to always put it back.”
Bagsing a car spot
Is it wrong to stand in a car spot to ‘save it’? When it comes to this modern dilemma, Val is divided.
“Parking and shopping centres can be very, very difficult. It gets heated at times. But when all is said and done, be reasonable.”
It seems even the most polite of us are not exempt from car park rage.
Playing music, and videos and taking loud phone calls on public transport
There are two sorts of people in this world. Those who watch videos, listen to music and take loud phone calls on public transport without using headphones and those who don’t. Don’t be the first type of person.
“That is extremely bad manners. You are infringing on the public’s right to peace. They might be suffering in some way, they might not feel well. They might not like your type of music,” she said.
In summary: while you might love watching Taylor Swift’s latest music video out loud for the 50th time, not everyone on your bus home feels the same.
Taking zoom calls on public transport
Just don’t do it. If you ask Val, it’s rude to all parties involved – both those forced to listen to your one-sided meeting, and the people on the other end of the line.
“I think that’s a bad manners. Taking a zoom call on a public transport unless you absolutely have to. But I think you just take it in the beginning and you apologise and say ‘Look, I’m unable to speak at the moment to take this zoom call. I’m terribly sorry’.”
Dog poo or prawn heads in someone else’s bin
Your dog leaves a deposit for you on your walk. A stranger’s bin stares at you, its open lid beckoning you forward. Do you a) Sneakily ditch the doo-doo, or b) Bring it home with you?
If you chose option A, Val has one word for you: “Despicable”.
“You always, always take it home.”
The same goes for cheekily putting prawn heads in your neighbour’s rubbish.
“The very best thing you can do is put them in the freezer, and pop them in the bin on the eve of collection.”
There’s only one sin that is worse – leaving the poo all together.
“Leaving the poo there is always worse. If you leave it, someone may come along with very, very nice expensive shoes, or they may trip over and fall in it,” she said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Aussie etiquette on dog poo in bins, plane seats, going barefoot, parking and public music
‘Out of control’: Teen allegedly attacked with axe, kidnapped
A Northern Rivers woman stands accused of kidnapping a teenage girl and robbing her before she escaped from a car in an alleged wild episode on a busy roadway.
Mayor’s political rival to join ranks of southwest Sydney council
A controversial former councillor who distributed a fake Islamophobic flyer about his rival’s wife and MP will return to a southwest Sydney council after scoring a win at the ballot box.