Australia’s etiquette queens removed their kid gloves over the weekend for a polite stoush over who knows best when it comes to social niceties.
June Dally-Watkins started the squabble by pointing out several “no-nos” in Ita’s new book A Guide to Australian Etiquette.
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June and Ita disagree on several issues, from whether it is okay to remove one’s shoes on a long flight (Ita says the sight and smell of bare feet is offensive, while June claims people shouldn’t be expected to keep shoes on) to whether it is appropriate for a woman to carry condoms in her handbag (Ita: Safe sex is all-important, June: It makes a girl look ‘easy’).
But by far the most unusual item of decorum the ladies disagree upon is the direction one should face when making their way to their seat in a theatre or cinema. Ita insists you should face other patrons as you pass to avoid thrusting your bottom in their faces. June disagrees, saying this leaves you at high risk of tripping over and landing in someone’s lap — the ultimate in public embarrassment.
June is now compiling her own etiquette guide, called Manners For Moderns: Be The Best You Can Be In Every Way, which is due for release later this year.
Your say: Which way do you think people should face when taking their seats in a cinema? Would you prefer an eyeful of rear end or crotch?
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