The Idea of Civility and Incivility - Assignment Example

Interview Can you please tell me your idea of civility?  After interviewing a judge, the idea of civility comes to my attention. The judge explained that the word civility was the ability to deal with lawyers and fellow judges in an equal way. The judge explained better that it’s the ability for lawyers to use court friendly language and be polite to each other while representing their various clients and rising points of order. He added that civility creates confidence and portrays the judicial institution in a positive manner. People seeking legal advice from the lawyers will feel secure since civility was being portrayed by the lawyers (Robinson, 2004). What are the opportunities to exercise civility in your daily life, such as at work or at home? The way we treat each other is what matters to determine civility. Civility is accompanied first politeness, this is a manner in which carries himself in the occasion that he or she is seeking for assistance. For instance, assuming one is the receptionist, a client approaches him or her to seek for guidance on a certain issue. The first thing one should do is greeting the client making him or her feel that at home, the client may annoy in the sense that he or she may be abusive or nagging, but remember the receptionist should understand and maintain high levels of politeness thus sending a positive signal, and marketing the institution as one which deals with clients in a polite manner (Robinson, 2004). The other aspect of civility is etiquette, this applies in working environment and a in home set up. One should learn to apologize if he or she has wronged, the simple worlds of am sorry and I apologize may mean a lot in this situation. In the working environment etiquette may be inform of dressing, work ethics treating of clients and facial expression. The first issue will be all about dressing, it should reflect ones character in that being well groomed will show ones seriousness in dealing with matters in hand. Also about work ethics, one should know the set procedures, for instance gossiping while a client is waiting to be served is unacceptable. One should keep in mind that working hours are different from resting hours. The word civility is used by different organization so as to enhance client confident. the all issue of one being civil is a matter of public relation in that how you deal with clients in a more friendly and professional way. The last one is all about facial expressions in that ones look portrays ones character, a smile may hide a lot, you may be having a rough day with you boss or disagreed with a college at work, this should remain in a matter of the company , if a client approaches you for assistance you should not portray what you have been through rather show high levels of professionalism . In a home set up civility is all about being apologetic and respecting each other. A family that is built on the grounds of civility is bound to last. Respect entails both the parents and the children in that it should be mutual. Issues arising and family disputes should be dealt with in a civil manner. This entails calling for a family meeting in which the matter in hand will be resolved. Matters to do with the adults, that is the parents should be dealt with in secrete rather than in front of the children (Robinson, 2004). If there is one thing that defines a person who is civil, what would it be? Respect is what defines a person who is civil. If at one learns to show respect in all aspect then civility will be a daily occurrence. This means that respecting ones duties, if one is assigned certain duties they should be performed heartedly. This will ensure one conducts him or her self performed according the laid down procedure which are laid on the basis of civility. Also if one respect the other person he should be polite to him which is an aspect in civility. I a family set up; respect ensures the family stays at bay. This is respect brushes out the issue of conflict and quarrels, the domestic disputes will at minimal if at all respect is observed on what ones responsibility is all about. This will ensure the responsibility of all family members is well wet in that one is not destined to fail in their responsibility. This leads to a happy and cohesive family which carries itself on the basis of civility. Respect is vital in that it leads to all aspects of one being civil. Respect does not entail fear but it is all about accepting each other regardless of ones behavior and character. This will ensure changing those with unbecoming behaviors to change civil ones. People, who act in civil manner to show their professionalism and respect to each other, those who do not act in a civil manner is due to ignorance, disrespect to one another and also due to arrogance. It doesn’t cost a anything to being civil, what one require is change of attitude. The society is all about being civil, gone are the days of intimidations in order to gain something. The only resort has been acting in a civil manner. There are factors that influence an individual civility. They include childhood background; this may influence a person civility. If one was brought up in a family where morals and religious teachings where observed, then the person will have no difficulties in upholding civility in his or her own home and workplace (Robinson, 2004). The other factor that influences a person’s civility is professionalism and experience. Inexperience worker tend to be rude and they observe less work ethics and have less ideas in dealing with clients and matters at hand. Experience workers show high levels of professionalism in that they are aware of work ethics and are able to deal with all sorts of clients according to their different behaviors. They are also able to make informed decisions on crucial moments when civility is at the risk of being unobserved. Where do you draw the line between incivility and more hostile or violent behavior? Incivility simply means that acting in a manner that is perceived to be inappropriate. In the court room incivility may be seen in the following way. On rising to correct a fellow lawyer since the lawyer maybe out of content or has offended the court in some of the word used, incivility will be when the lawyers start using unfriendly court words such as ‘my learned friend is wrong’ . Instead use words like ‘I beg to differ ’. The courts rules are clear two lawyers can not stand at the same time and when that happens it shows incivility. Incivility is simply a behavior, when the second party reacts to it in a more unprecedented way then the environment becomes hostile, this intern leads to violence. This is as a result of the second party trying to settle score. When matters get out of hand it leads to violence due to the hostility of the matter. Incivility is caused by one trying to thumb authority over a matter he or she feels they should have had an upper hand, or they may feel if they are not incivility they may loose the battle to supremacy (Robinson, 2004). For instance a fellow lawyer is standing on very strong ground in that one feeling a sense of defeat he or she result to insults thus creating animosity in the court room. A situation that may cause civility to escalate into incivility is when it’s allowed to grow roots into the society. In that nothing is done to stop or reduce it given the fact that the entire public is aware of the situation. This may affect the entire generation and the generation to come. These only stops when such cases are addressed before it become chronic. This always involves third parties that try to cool the situation as a short term measure. In the long run seminars and sensitization campaigns will be carried on. For those who are perceived to be rich usually intimidate those who are not of their status. They use incivility to gain what they desire. For instance a less fortunate citizen is seeking for some service, on the other hand the rich is seeking for the same. The rich will get the service using unorthodox ways .People will tend to notice incivility more since at a point they have suffered the result of it (Robinson, 2004). They are in a position to notice incivility since it’s a daily occurrence. Civility occurs in rare cases; even those acting in civility will be seen as doing matters in incivility due to the general assumption that all in the society are the same. Programs have been created to sensitize people on civility. For them to work effectively they should include al sectors including the corporate world and the government. This will ensure that the programs acquire the desired audience. The programs should be incorporated in school curriculum to enable young generation adopt civility at tender age. The programs will work best where the society is not willing to change no matter what happens or any efforts civility will be on trial. Also a place where people are trying to show how powerful they can get may damage civility. Civility by many only ads on reputation, but in real life it is a failure. For instance a supplier has failed to deliver good in time, one will not humble or smile on him or her but resolve in other ways to making sure they are delivered in time. The as much as the entire society is expected to act in a civil manner, it reaches a time when it must be bridged to reach certain demands. This is why the programs involve in the sensitization program should focus on sensitizations (Robinson, 2004). References Robinson, J. (2004). Civilization. New York: Kessinger Publishing. Read More