As A Matter of Manner

Once I saw a book called “Otak Sejuta Gigabyte” (One Million Gigabyte Brain), originally titled “The Great Memory Book” by Eric Jensen, M.A. and Karen Markowitz, M.A. It is about how to use simple memory technique to recall names, places, etc. The bottom line: how to use boost your brain to store one million gigabyte of memory.

However, the rest of the blog is not about how we can use the brain, but, rather, about how sometimes the memory can fool you.

In our social life, there are certain responses that go together – either they are to show politeness or just a mere habitual things.

For example, if people say “Thank you” to you, what will you response?

“You’re welcome” (good one!)

Or, if somebody asks you “Do you want some drink?”, the polite way to refuse is to say what?

“No, thanks.” (awesome!)

Enough for the manner lesson. Sometimes we are so used to the pairs that the brain does not really process the questions before giving a response.

Scene 1:

I was on the bus to the downtown for a grocery shopping. The bus gradually stoped. My friend and I walked on the alley towards the front door. As a matter of manner (no pun intended), my friend said, “Thank you, Sir” to the bus driver. The bus driver (and some other passengers)) laughed. What’s wrong? The bus driver was a woman!

Scene 2:

I was walking down a street going back to my apartment. Somebody on the street asked me, “do you have a cigarette?” Without consulting with the brain, my mouth threw out “No, thanks.” Ten steps away, my brain accused my responsive mouth “you should have answered, ‘No, sorry’”.

Scene 3:

Day 1: Staff at the cafetaria : “Have a great day!”

            Me: “You, too.”

Day 2: Staff at the cafetaria : “Have a good lunch!”

            Me: “You, too.”

            Three second later I told myself, “She didn’t have lunch, she was working.”

Scene 4: 

I was riding an automatic motorbike (a good friend let me ride it after my manual motorbike was sold). Everytime I slowed down or I felt that I need to accelerate the speed, my foot stepped to change the gear. I was stepping on the air as there was no gear on the bike.

Scene 5:

Stranger: "How are you doing?"

Me: (hatchoo!!!) "I'm good, thanks."