PUCCI GALORE

That is a most reasoned statement - believe me when I say that it will befall all of us here one day or other. I never thought that it would happen to me, but it has I fear.

Gallus1

If having good manners is a display of “cultural superiority”, then I for one proudly hold my hand and head up - guilty as charged.
As for having good manners equating to money and/or nationality? Utterly ridiculous! Money never has or will equate to class.

xenole

I really don't see the issue with socks on a sofa (assuming they don't stink and aren't crusty).
It's called a lounge for a reason and that to me is somewhere where I can lounge around, be comfortable and relax rather than some stuffy and pretentious place that wouldn't go amiss for Mr. Fogg in "80 Days Around The World".

(Manners wise, I bet the majority here have put their elbows on the tables; eat soup by bringing themselves to the bowl rather than the spoon to themselves; use cutlery in the wrong order and fail to admonish the working class staff for such faux pas in their presentation; laptops and/or phones out at the bar / dining areas)

I have no idea why this person was singled out. Busy and people required seating? Someone complained? A particular staff member having a bad day? Stinky feet? Or what?

I said earlier that things like this can be witnessed multiple times a day in lounges, F cabins etc. with pretty much nothing being said or done.
Sure when I pop in next week in my shorts, remove my sandals and slap my bare feet up on to a table and proceed to trim my toe nails, nothing will be said. Expect a few looks but little else to show how inconsistent things are.

I've said in a previous post that there was once a corpulent man in a string vest asleep on one of the sofas. Zero interaction by any patrons or staff there and to a lot here, that would have been something so abhorrible to some here that they would never dawn BA's doors again....

Adam1222

As should be abundantly clear, having good manners is not the problem. Shouting that one has good manners and sneering at others is. Shouting about others classlessness never has or will equate to class.

Pascoe

I think "If sir wishes to have his feet on the sofa, perhaps sir would feel more at home travelling with Ryanair....would sir like the concierge desk to arrange a transfer to Stansted?"..... would have been the exemplary response at this point.

Scots_Al

What this fails to recognise, though, is that "manners" are entirely culturally dependent. See taking the time to politely thank your waiter in the USA without leaving a tip, a Japanese person slurping noodles, or the discussion on here the other day about whether to leave any food on your plate, as examples.

By behaving in a certain way (and IMHO you should generally try to behave in the manner expected where you are) you may be behaving "correctly" according to your culture, but to describe that as inherently culturally superior is an odd world view.

Gallus1

[QUOTE=Scots_Al;

By behaving in a certain way (and IMHO you should generally try to behave in the manner expected where you are) you may be behaving "correctly" according to your culture, but to describe that as inherently culturally superior is an odd world view.[/QUOTE]

However, please note the “cultural superiority” was the accusation laid against me when I stated the same as you.

Gallus1

Once again, the horse is well and truly flogged.

xenole

British culture though is a complete mixed bag of things. It's not, as previously said, something from the 1800s with the isolated gentry looking down upon the working class who knew their place, but everything from those who like to rub in peoples' faces what they have through to "right mate?", "init?" and so on.

Stil

This thread has become a Tour de Force in no arguments why a lounges can not be used as a lounge for resting, if one does it respectfully; One has of course to disregarding all the hurt "class/upbringing" feelings comments.
It's all one liners with fancy words, hot air and a slight whim of them and us.

I have in a previous post tried to display why it might be reasonable with more leniency in etiquette when lounges are at question. But, I frankly get the notion that some people here think that making an argument about behaviour in a lounge equals ones behavior in daily life as a general. It does not.
It's a lounge where people are tired. Not a restaurant, not a café, not a hotel, not a workplace..a lounge.

And if lounges has become so fancy that they can not cater for weary travellers, then yes please arrange the transport!

Gallus1

Good manners has nothing whatsoever do do with class. There are plenty of Ill mannered individuals who have had the luxury of opulent upbringings. Conversely, there are many of us from working class or difficult backgrounds who have the respect for others to treat them with courtesy.
I wonder why there is a desire to twist this into a case of moneyed upbringings v that of those less privileged.

Stil

Where do you read all of that out of my text?

I don't care where people come from, what clothes they are wearing, which car they are driving, if they had a nanny and lived on a castle.I do though hope for their sake, that they are happy and fulfilled in life. Treading others with the same respect they like themselves, but that is a another story.

My sole interest and my argument is, I don't find it to be offencive using a sofa for resting, if one is hygienic and there is no chairs or what ever designed for it, as is the case here.
My argument is only in regards to use of a lounge and what is considered kosher.
All the rest about class, good upbringing, money or no money I frankly couldn't care less and I would like to emphasise, that me and a few others are the only ones that hasn't mentioned class as a good measure for curtesy.

Gallus1

When I mention class, I am not referring to material class. I was referring to manners. Being a classy person.
While I completely disagree with your opinion that it is neither here nor there if someone is languishing with their feet on the furniture, you are, of course, entitled to yours.
However there seems to be an underlying refrain of haves and have nots threading through the replies. This, I find, offensive. I reiterate, it has nothing to do with money, nationality, age perspective or upbringing. It all has to do with your personal idea of what constitutes good manners and social acknowledgment of others social expectations of behaviour.
There’s a time and place for everything!

Stil

Hey, if you are not going to give me a run for my money (had to write it) in regards to what is wrong with using a lounge for lounging. A proper argument and not all the staffage, which frankly doesn't interest me as a non British.
Let's just agree to disagree on the basis as of now

drpabs

CONCORDE ROOM LIVE REPORT:

Conditions: currently very pleasant.

I am here in the CCR now relaxing with a glass of LPGS and listening to 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' (the lounge background music) and as far as I can see, everyone is being well-behaved with their feet firmly on the ground. It is very different from the Flounge. Precisely nobody is shouting into mobiles. Mobile use such as it is, is in very hushed tones.