QOTD: 5/26 If you could....

If you could enforce just ONE rule of etiquette, what would it be and why?

I would enforce the Please & Thanks you. I have 2 teen - age boys and this is slipping in our
home. I am a stickler for it even with their friends when the come to the house.  The boys think
I am old fashioned, but it shows respect and general politeness.  It is also harder to curse after saying please or thank you.

Mine would be respect your elders.  They really do know more than you, and their trials and tribulations through the years deserves your respect.  I think, for the most part, this generation is very disrespectful. 

I'm pretty traditional and put a lot of weight on etiquette.  I don't think I can pick just one rule.  I hate seeing poor table manners.  I think men should still remove their hats when inside, and I like it when they hold the door open for me.  I also witnessed some people at the Fisher Cats game last week sitting at a table and talking and laughing during the National Anthem, which really upset me.  I agree with Martha about respecting our elders; and please & thank you are such easy words to say, but rarely heard.  I think that, along those lines, the thank you card is becoming extinct.  I never give a gift to get the thank you card, but I appreciate it when the recipient acknowledges it to me, and I notice when it's not acknowledged.  When you think of the time it took the giver between the shopping (not to mention the expense), the thought that went into choosing the gift and the time spent giving the gift, be it attendance a party, shower or wedding, etc. -- the time time it takes the recipient to write out the card . . . well, you get my drift.

If I could really only pick one...since you've covered the please and thank you's, it would have to be "excuse me."
I find it so rude when people bump, push, cut you off, burp or just accidentally stumble by you and fail to say excuse me. Sometimes I say it for them. Which is sarcastic, but...
I agree with Kathy about the thank you cards, but can also admit I'm terrible about doing them lately as I am always so busy.
It used to be a hard and fast rule that thank you's had to go out within a week, but now I'm a slacker and when it gets too long, I feel embarrassed and end up not sending them at all!

Mine would have to be slang - when it's not appropriate. I hear it more and more and see it in emails. It's getting out of control.

I think that would be "if you can't say something nice, then say NOTHING."  Seriously, the lack of general kindness in the world and the fact that everyone seems to think they have a right to foist their opinions on others grates on my nerves sometimes.