The Rules of the Gentleman

[LitTrog]

I love the list.

However, #8 sometimes requires a bit of training and knowledge to enact. I will admit to a certain amount of distinctly ungentlemanly behavior in my 20's which leaves me well-equipped to enforce that rule. I will avoid the fight whenever possible, but...

Great post!

[room2ndfloor]

#16: A Gentleman can drive a stick-shift.

Piffle! Plenty of gentlemen cannot drive at all, or were born before the automobile was invented.

I do prefer a stick-shift. Do I look like a woman who would drive an automatic?

[McClef]

We call them manuals over here.

[thescot]

Hear, hear. Those are the rules that any man should want to adopt as his own.

One my gunny once told me is another to add: a gentleman always carries a handkerchief, knows how to drink a martini, and knows how to smoke a cigar--even if he doesn't drink martinis or smoke cigars.

[thescot]

[QUOTE=room2ndfloor;1043511. . . I do prefer a stick-shift. Do I look like a woman who would drive an automatic?[/QUOTE]

No, but I'll bet you could if you wanted to.

[McClef]

Another definition of a gentleman (in a Scottish context) was a man who knew how to play the bagpipes but didn't.

[ForresterModern]

We call them manuals over here.

Trefor

Over here a "manual" is the book in the glove box that tells you how to drive the stick shift.

j

[LitTrog]

Trefor

Over here a "manual" is the book in the glove box that tells you how to drive the stick shift.

j

Nice.

[EagleJCS]

Most of the men important in my early life followed these rules. When I was of age, I promised to do my duty to God and country, obey the scout law, help others, and keep fit, exercise my mind, and live a moral life. Further pledged to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, frieldly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. I still follow that path to this day (though not always as successfully as I'd like) and gave my son the same opportunity. It's a shame that in todays society being a "gentleman" is seen as either a reactionary zealot or a comical anachronism.
My 2 cents.

I was thinking the same thing! I don't think it's a coincidence that Baden-Powell took many of the ideals of British society at the time and formalized them into a code of conduct for Scouts.

BTW- I took a further oath upon receiving my Eagle award to make my training an example (part of the "Eagle Scout Oath"). I strive to do this every day, in everything I do.

[Father Bill]

Thought of my late Dad right away.

I smile at a couple, but understand and respect them all, and know why they're on the list.