Meghan Doherty - How Not to Be a Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide

Throughout history, there have been dicks. The kind of people who have the power to ruin even the nicest day. The kind of people who, when youre just enjoying a soothing cup of hot coffee in the morning, rush in, knock that coffee all over your favorite sweater, and dont even stop to help, much less apologize!

Dicks dont stop to consider how their attitudes, actions, and words affect other people. Dicks are, as a rule, selfish and thoughtless. They take out their fears, frustrations, insecurities, and ignorance on others. Dicks have been the cause of wars, snide New Yorker articles, and upsetting comments on cute cat blogs for as long as anyone can remember. That bully from grade school, that boss who promoted his fraternity brother over you, that kid in seventh grade who mocked your lispall dicks!

To be totally honest, we can all be dicks at times. We can all get caught up in our own world, forget about everyone else, and start acting like dicks. We all have bad days, and we all make mistakes, even when we mean well. What can you do?

Heres what: Remember that were all in it together. Remember to take a breath and think of those around you. Not being a dick can be hard. It takes work and practice. Thats where this book can help! No matter what situation you find yourself inattending a party, using the bathroom, sitting on the bus, taking a midterm, having a picnic, or just talking to someone youre really intothis book has the advice you need to not be a dick.

So without further ado, lets get cracking on creating a new, improved, non-dickish you!

The first rule of not being a dick to others is: Dont be a dick to yourself. If youre vicious to yourself, youre probably going to be vicious to others, and if youre vicious to others, other people will be vicious to you. So dont walk around hating yourself or being a Negative Nancy. That doesnt help anyone.

Lets say you just went shopping and you bought an awesome new jacket. You like it so much that you dont want to take it off, so you keep it on even after you come indoors. Some people might find that unusual and ask you why youre wearing a jacket inside.

How do you react? If you feel insecure about yourself and your fashion choices, you might become defensive.

But if someone doesnt appreciate your style sensibility, let your own positivity prevail. Be proud of who you are and stand up for the choices you make.

If you want to wear your jacket inside, then wear your jacket inside. If some people think they can survive without a nice heavy jacket, best of luck to them when the long winter comes.

Its easy to focus on our own problems and shortcomings. If were feeling bored or unhappy, we cant hide that reality from ourselves, whereas its very difficult to see what other people are trying to keep under wraps. So upon seeing a boy playing ping-pong, you might think: My lifes so boring and dull. Im so unhappy. If only I could play ping-pong like that boy, things would be different. There are a lot of nice things in the world and a lot of smiling people, but if you dwell too much on what you dont have, its easy to feel inadequate.

The thing is, the other person could be thinking the same thing about you!

We dont really have any idea whats going on in another persons life. What looks great from the outside might not be so great on the inside.