Let's bring civility back

Have you taken lumps for doing the right thing? Have I got a story...

Peace and Blessings,

Sincerely,

Gary

http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1188

Excellent feedback and outside discussions can be found here;

http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1987

firm grasp on reality, admirable appreciation for civility. good luck!
~laurel

http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/6371

*A first kiss, a dental emergency, identifying the Big Man on Campus and talking back to Punky Brewster.

I've done a bit of customer service myself and I've had thoughts along the same lines. The sum of this entry is a great idea.

Great take on a subject near and dear to my heart. Your patient personality is apparent and your delivery gets that across as well.

Mr. Berry,

Kudoes on the radio show idea involving/revolving around 'civility', 'respect', and 'perspective'.

In the current environment of shock-jocks and general 'potty-mouths' on the radio and other media these days, your entry was like a 'breath of fresh air'! >:)

However, personally, I feel you shouldn't approach it as a "Ms. Manners" on public radio. In my opinion, you really need to -stress- the 'little', 'inane' things one human does to another, as a means to express, in the most basic terms of "F-you, buddy, I am -more- -important- than you!", and how to 'circumvent' or at least 'relieve' this human tendency, so it doesn't contribute to the general sphere of negativity...

It is like the viscious spiral of a "Pecking Order"...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecking_order

In my experience, I have found that everyone, in one way or another, endure 'pecks' from others, until they build up:
- The person with 20 items in the "10 items or less, cash only" aisle, that takes forever to write the check.

- The man in the 6-wheel pickup truck barely kissing your rear bumper because you are going only 5 miles over the speed limit in the far left lane.

- The passenger car with the drilled muffler and booming-loud sound system driving back and forth through your neighborhood, rattling your ears, and the ground you walk on.

- The coffee-baristas engaged in an animated conversation, full well knowing your are waiting for service at the counter, but patently ingoring you anyway.

- All the freeway drivers that seem to think that the turn signal is -only- for indicating turns, and seem oblivious to the concept that the same flashers should be used to signal a lane change as well.

These and more add up, compound, reinforce, until the final straw... The 50-cent newspaper didn't show up, or was 'appropriated' by someone else... Then, some Customer Service Representative is going to get an *EAR-FULL*...

Not because the newspaper didn't come, but because the person has had their "fill", and the only apparent outlet is to let another human "have *it*"...

And this 'peck' transfers to the Rep., who takes it as part of his/her job, but in turn, it adds to the 'meter', until the Rep. has had their fill, and in turn, lets another person "have *it*"...
The never ending cycle of the Human Pecking Order...

... Sorry... I wax loquacious, and I don't really know how to stop once started...

Best of luck! >:)

- Wayne Powers

"Surly to bed, surly to rise, makes you about average..." Unknown
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/5408

Great idea for a show and nice voice!

I really liked your story. You make some really good points about civility and customer service. I know because I've been in those kinds of positions myself. I'm going to use that "Don't work in postal" line the next time some customer gives me lip.

If you don't get chosen for a radio show, I would strongly suggest writing a book. Either way, you should write a book. Tact can be a hot topic in society again, based on the notion that everyone wants to be treated with respect. Just something to think about.

Really enjoyed your voice...you were down-to-Earth and real!
MAY YOUR DAY BE AS SPECIAL AS YOU ARE...Peace, Love and Happiness Always to You and Yours!

i hope this gets broadcast somewhere, even if it isn't npr. best of luck.

Oh, how I wish I had thought of this comment earlier in my customer service career! Dealing over the phone with someone angry takes the right amount of finesse. And you certainly show that with your 2 minutes, and a very gentle warmth! Definitely someone I'd like to hear more of.

It's kind of like this calm voice of reason washing in and it's needed in this world--needed in radio. Good luck to you Steve, wishing you the best!

I'll just second (third, fourth?) all the kudos on your recording. Definitely a voice for radio!

And thanks for being so kind and supportive in this competition... it certainly softens the blow of diving into the deep end when so many people are so encouraging!

(And, indeed, you can learn lots from llamas. Spitting aside, they are actually quite civil.)

Steve,

I enjoyed your piece. I especially like the quality of your voice... it's relaxed and intimate. Best of luck in this.

-BJ

(Hear "Miss Analog High" - BJ's new parody of American Pie at http://www.bjleiderman.com)

I liked your piece a lot. It's a great contemporary issue, and your segment reveals something about you, personally, as well. Judges and rules are pretty clear on production not being of such great importance in the judging, especially as compared to getting to know the host. So I wouldn't worry or rethink yourself. Good luck!

While the production values are a little slim, this announcer's voice has a nice NPR quality to it: measured, confident, empathetic, sober--but definitely not boring. Very Ira Flatow. It also sounded prepared (meaning written and not winged), which half the battle and something many of the contestants are shy on.

Good luck!

K.S. Haddock
http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/222
www.kshaddock.com

I appreciate the feedback. Yes, when I review my submission I agree it could use some umph. (Is that an official radio word?). If I make it to the next round I PROMISE to spice it up just enough to give it the proper umphiness.

I have a lot of experience with public speaking and will do a better job of it with this.

Thanks for listening.

Good Luck All

Cheers!

Steve, finding your entry and listening to it was just the dose of civility I needed after a trying day of trying to be a good member of this radio community. I too have spent many years in a field related to customer service - public relations - and in today's service economy, it's even more crucial that we, as consumers, feel we like the people we're dealing with, because there are so many choices and options if we want to go elsewhere.

I would agree that your piece needs just that little bit of oomph to boost its effectiveness. But your message is well targeted for our uncivil society.

Linda Lowen
Visit me in my House by the Sea:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/1432

To see or not to see...
Movie reviews and more about me:
http://blog.syracuse.com/communitycritics/linda_lowen/

Imagination - "the real and eternal world of which this vegetable universe is but a faint shadow."
William Blake

I like this idea - it seems like the basic standards of courtesy have slipped so far in our society that the idea of "etiquette" is rather antiquated - we need to begin reeducation on a more fundamental level, namely learning how to be polite and thoughtful.

It seems as though every time I'm on the phone with a Customer Service person, they say something like, "Thank you for not being irrational - most people are such jerks." And I think that's a sad indicator about how empathy and - as you say - a sense of perspective has been lost. Good for you for maintaining your sense of humanity in a job where you're exposed to so much needless vitriol.

I was very drawn into the issues you raised and your thoughtfulness. The only direction I would give is that I would like to hear a little more enthusiasm and energy from you personally. Of course I, on the other hand, apparently have too much energy. I just get pretty "fired up" when I think about how inhumane and unconscious we can be as human beings. I think your program idea is very good and very much needed. Good luck!!!

The answer is simple...People find me interesting and I have been promoting myself...So before you go and say "Not for public radio" maybe you had better take a look in the mirror and ask yourself why you have no points...

P.S. Next time you leave a comment like that about my audio maybe you should consider flipping burgers for a living...

ONWARD AND UPWARD!,

WOODY NELSON

WOODY NELSON FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008!!!

VOTE EARLY AND VOTE OFTEN!!!

... is a lost art these days. You have a noble mission. And you did a darn good job explicating it in your entry. Good luck!

*n*

PS: And I'm so thrilled that you too have been marked as offensive by our resident troll. It means you've joined the club! Congratulations! Teehee!

"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about" - Oscar Wilde

Thoughtful and well written. Good luck Steve!

Bill Grady

"You Are The Guest" Podcast

http://www.youaretheguest.com