YOU (South Africa)

WHERE ARE YOUR MANNERS?

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I’ve spent a good number of years working in retail. This time of the year would fill me with dread to the point where I had a bottle of Rescue Remedy at my till.

Many retail workers work and study. You complete your exams and walk into the nightmare of the silly season. The stress on them is huge. There’s no holiday.

We smile and try to do our jobs as best we can yet still have to deal with rude customers, screaming children having tantrums and general grumpy moods from the public.

Those working behind a desk or till aren’t idiots. They don’t have control of how many people arrive to work their shifts or why lines are so long. Shouting and swearing at the staff does nothing but create anxiety for the workers and for others standing and waiting.

A bit of kindness, basic human decency and some appreciati­on would go a long way. There’s no need to take out mentality (YOU, 27 October).

I also wish that seeking therapy during tough times was normalised. It helps to talk to a profession­al and offload the burden on your shoulders.

And money is no excuse. There are free counsellin­g services. You can find out more about them at your local clinic or workplace. Get help! NELSON KHUMALO, TEMBISA

GOTTA LOVE RUGBY!

South Africa and rugby are synonymous. In our country, rugby is dreamt of since childhood. In primary school, dads are the ones who pack the sidelines. Many fathers thrive on their sons’ achievemen­ts and sometimes even offer rewards for every try.

In high school, the fun of playing ball your bad mood on the shop staff because you chose to do your shopping on Christmas Eve.

Decency and kindness goes a long way. There needs to be a change. NICOLA, EMAIL

Patrons who think it’s okay to chat on their cellphones at the top of their voices in eateries should be led outside by the owners of those establishm­ents.

Clearly these people have no clue and cellphone etiquette eludes them. Lack of good manners is the primary cause of this exploding problem.

Another irritation are those cellphone users who insist on conducting business in coffee shops and restaurant­s and not from their offices.

We need a law passed that will ensure these miscreants are frogmarche­d onto the streets, never to use another cellphone again except in their own private space. PETER BACHTIS, BENONI turns into tyrannical battles.

Isn’t it true that when we lose it’s always the referee’s fault? Or the coach’s. But when we win there are no complaints.

Danie Craven was so fond of saying that South Africa can be changed on the rugby field. I remember how I put together my own Springbok team as a child since school days. On Saturday evenings after nine, the team was announced on the radio. It was fun to see how your team differed.

Today I no longer know all the players and a squad no longer consists of only 15. Neverthele­ss, when your team loses, it feels as if you’ve received bad news and when your team wins, it’s like you’ve accomplish­ed something yourself. LYNETTE STRYDOM, GQEBERHA

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