4.4.2.4 Courtesy

(This is archived version 2a of material from the Patterns of Power Repository; it is an update of Edition 2.)

‘Courtesy’ includes the overlapping concepts of 'politeness' and 'consideration':

· In a pluralist society, the obvious default form of politeness with strangers would be in the form of conventions determined by the majority culture – such as customary greetings.

· Within small close-knit groups from a minority culture, ethnic customs might be observed between group members – but with strangers it is clearly more tactful to comply with majority customs, at least to begin with.

· It is a basic courtesy for people to speak the language of the region where they live.

· The term ‘courtesy’ also includes considerate behaviour: avoiding annoyance to other people, for example, and acting to avert their discomfort.

· People may want to ask others to behave differently – for example, to reduce their noise level. It is courteous for people to accede to such requests, particularly if politely made – though there can be difficulties, as discussed below (4.4.3).

Within this meaning, the term ‘courtesy’ does not require agreement with the other person’s views and beliefs. It facilitates peaceful pluralism if it is reciprocal: both majority and minority groups need to be courteous to each other.