If you’re a grown adult with a modicum of self-respect, you’ll probably want people to think highly of you. You don’t have to be some Fortune 500 CEO or a social media star to make it happen, either — you just have to act like a decent human being both in public and behind closed doors. If you do any of the following things, you’re going to come off as classless, so unless that’s what you’re going for, you should probably stop ASAP.
Getting drunk in public
This has ever been cute and it never will be. Being sloppy drunk in general is a bad look for anyone of any age, but the older you get, the more classless this behavior becomes. Show that you know how to hold your drink — and how to switch to water when you’ve definitely had enough — by not getting totally sloshed at the bar or club. Your reputation will thank you.
Excessive swearing or using crude language
Look, I get it — I’m a potty mouth myself, but I also know how to express myself in non-four-letter words. There’s a time and place to let your profanity flag fly, and it’s certainly not in the workplace, in mixed company, or in public places. Sure, everyone throws down an eff-bomb every once in a while, but try to keep it to a minimum.
Not practicing good personal hygiene
Class isn’t about your bank balance — I believe it was the sage philosopher known as Luann de Lesseps who once said “money can’t buy you class,” and she was right. Instead, it’s about how you carry yourself, and personal hygiene is a huge part of that. Take a bath (with soap!), brush your hair and your teeth, wash your face, and do you eed to do to look and be presentable. No one wants to smell your B.O. or halitosis, bud.
Getting into physical fights
Again, this is another no-brainer that shouldn’t even need to be included but is. Oftentimes, physical fights coincide with the aforementioned drunkenness, especially when men’s fragile masculinity is somehow threatened while out for a night on the town (or when women are fighting over said men). Put your fists away and have a little more dignity.
Gossiping about people behind their backs
Trash talking other people may make you feel like a real-life Regina George, but we all know she was kind of the worst and shouldn’t see this as a good thing. Gossiping doesn’t make you popular, it makes you toxic. Everyone you talk to is going to know that if you’ll talk about other people to them, you’ll talk to them about other people. Yikes.
Littering or leaving messes for other people to clean up
Oh, I’m sorry, is that empty soda bottle just too heavy to carry with you to the trash can at the end of the block? Is your back so bad you can’t lean over and pick up your dog’s crap? Unfortunately, you’re classless. The key to a functioning society is everyone doing their part, and if you’re just acting like a jerk and expecting everyone else to pick up your slack, you need to get it together.
Taking phone calls on speakerphone in quiet spaces
Do I even have to explain why this is classless? No one wants to hear your conversations. Really, we don’t. Pop a pair of headphones in or put the darn phone to your ear like a normal person, for crying out loud. You’re not special and no one is going to think you’re cool because you’re screaming about football or your annoying colleague while on a rush-hour bus.
Not tipping service workers appropriately
Yeah, tipping culture blows, but it’s here to stay for a while so you’ll have to get used to it. Sure, it shouldn’t be the consumer’s job to make up for cheapo business owners, but until waitresses and delivery drivers get paid a living wage, we need to do our part to help them out. If you can’t afford the 20% tip (or simply refuse to give it), maybe don’t eat out? (Obviously, if the service was horrendous, that’s a whole other matter — we’re talking about good service here!)
Engaging in too much PDA
Again, only classless people think it’s acceptable to basically jump someone’s bones in a public park in the middle of the afternoon or stick their tongues down each other’s throat while waiting in line for a concert. Get a room — literally. Doing this is gross.
Not holding the door open for people behind you
Of course, this can get a little awkward if you end up waiting for someone who’s halfway up the block to run up and pass through the door you’re holding open. However, if there’s someone right behind you and you just march through and let it slam shut, this is a classless move. It literally takes minimum effort to hold it open for them. It’s common courtesy.
Bringing up really inappropriate topics in polite conversation
While you shouldn’t have to censor yourself all the time, you also need to know when certain topics of conversation are welcome and appropriate and if they’re not, leave them alone. Bringing up religion, sexuality, politics, and other hot button topics in professional situations (or even social ones in which you don’t know the people very well) is a major faux pas and a sign of low social intelligence, not to mention low class.
Dressing inappropriately for the occasion
No one’s saying you need to be decked out in a tux or ball gown everywhere you go, nor should you have to wear anything you’re super uncomfortable in. However, you also can’t be surprised that people find you classless if you show up to a formal event in boat shoes and cargo shorts. Dress in a way that suits the situation you’re in if you don’t want to draw negative attention to yourself.
Having poor table manners
Chewing with your mouth open, talking with food in your mouth, making loud noises like you’re a cow chewing cud on a farm — all of these things point to terrible table manners. You don’t have to know which of the 17 forks on a fancy dinner table is the right one for your salad, but some basic etiquette will go a long way.
Picking your nose, burping, or farting in public
That’s just nasty. No one wants to smell the methane gas coming out of your bottom, nor do they want to see you pulling boogies out of your nose and rubbing them god knows where. Keep your nasty (albeit very human) habits behind closed doors — it’s not for the generla public.
Spitting on the ground
If ever there was a classless behavior, this is one. You’re not Jack teaching Rose how to hock a loogie over the side of the Titanic. Swallow it or do whatever — just keep it inside your mouth.
Being glued to your phone instead of being present in the moment
I know this is the 21st century and everyone is glued to their phones, but know when to put it down and engage with the people around you. Technology addiction is a very real thing and a serious problem. Show you’re in control of your device rather than the other way around and put it away sometimes, okay?
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