Civility

Modified: 2026-08-16 2:58 PM CDST

• Hobbes's State of Nature
  • He suggested that prior to the formation of governments humans must have lived in a state of nature.
  • In that hypothetical primordial state there were no laws and everyone, including women, was equal.
    • At the same time, there was no way of distinguishing what was good or evil. All had their own definition.
    • The state of nature was relativistic, chaotic, and even anarchistic.
  • Hobbes famously described life as, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
    • The only right people had was that of self-preservation, and it remained whether they were in the state of nature or under a government.
    • However, relativism combined with self preservation led to chaos and a state of constant war as people either retaliated, or worse, preemptively attacked each other.
    • Hobbes believed that people surrendered their rights to their ruler, who in turn, provided laws and protection.
  • Later philosophers slowly gnawed away at that total surrender of rights, especially John Locke.
    • Many of Locke's ideas are enshrined in the Constitution of the United States.
• Manners, courtesy, and ceremonies

• Evolved in all cultures
• Serve to smooth human relations
  • Hands are usually involved: hand shakes, holding hand(s) up
  • Nonverbal message: "I do not intend to hurt you."
• Highly cultural
  • Cultures have different ways of expressing civility or closeness
    • Hand shaking, cheek kissing, hugging, bowing
  • Pandemic Manners (remember those?)
    • Wear a mask
    • Don't shake hands (touch elbows)
    • Fist bump
    • Don't cough in public
  • Police Stops (from https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/police-stops-when-pulled-over-30186.html)
    • Stop as soon as practicable
    • Turn off engine
    • Roll down window
    • Leave both hands on steering wheel
    • Stay in car unless asked to exit
    • Avoid rummaging for license and registration unless asked (furtive movements)
    • Hand driver's license, registration, insurance, and concealed weapon permit (if you have one, whether armed at the time or not) to officer
    • DO NOT SHOW OFFICER ANY WEAPONS UNLESS ASKED
    • Objects in "plain sight" might lead to search
  • Arkansas Laws and Rights (from https://katv.com/archive/what-are-your-rights-when-youre-pulled-over-by-a-police-officer)
    • Officers must identify themselves by name
    • Refusal to take Breathalizer test is allowed, but will lead to six-month license suspension
    • Field sobriety tests may be refused without consequence
    • You may refuse a vehicle search, but doing so may lead to arrest and subsequent search anyway
    • Don't argue with officer
    • The "Lunge Area"
      • An officer may react defensively to any sudden movements by drivers
      • In other words, stay still
• US Navy Change of Command Ceremony (thanks to militarywives.com)
  • "Change of Command Tradition The Change of Command Ceremony is not prescribed specifically by U.S. Navy Regulations, but rather is an honored product of the rich heritage of naval tradition. It is a custom wholly Naval, without an equivalent counterpart in the Army or Air Force. Custom has established that this ceremony be formal and impressive--designed to strengthen that respect for authority which is vital to any military organization.
  • Parading all hands at Quarters and public reading of official orders stem from those days when movement of mail and persons was a slow process. This procedure was designated to ensure only duly authorized officers held command and that all aboard were aware of its authenticity.
  • The heart of the ceremony is the formal reading of official orders by the relieving officer and the officer to be relieved. Command passes upon utterance by the relieving officer, "I relieve you, Sir (or Ma'am)." The officer being relieved responds, "I stand relieved." This simple procedure is duplicated hundreds of times daily throughout the Navies of the world as each watch officer passes responsibility to his or her relief in the conduct of each ship's routine."

   

  

  • Caine Mutiny ceremony from the movie
    • (Queeg (Humphrey Bogart, Right) relieves DeVriess (Tom Tully, Left) of command of the USS Caine)
      • Wikipedia on Caine Mutiny
      • Caine Mutiny Trailer
  • Actual change of command video (music is the Caine Mutiny march) voiceover is Bogart
    • Not the ceremony in the movie, but the music is from the movie
  • What about meeting with faculty advisor? SAU Graduation? Weddings? Funerals?
    • Why do we perform these ceremonies?
    • Mother in law ad
      • Humorous (?) example of lack of ceremony
• Academic manners
  • Timeliness
    • Get to class on time
    • Stay for the whole class, if you must leave early, tell the instructor before class starts
    • Do everything else necessary to be on time (travel, child arrangements, and homework)
    • In online classes: answer e-mails, complete tests and assignments, read or attend "lectures" (e.g., Zoom or similar)
  • Attentiveness
    • Respect your instructor and your fellow students, don't:
      • read outside material in class
        • my English History class in 5th grade
          • teacher believed I was reading outside material, called me to front. I was reading ahead in the text.
          • he did not punish me
      • talk on your cell phone
      • text
      • leave the room
      • fall asleep
      • talk to your classmates
  • Equal time
    • Participate in class, but don't hog the floor
    • Allow others to contribute to discussion
    • In online classes do not highjack discussions
  • Appropriate dress and hygeine
    • Clothing standards vary by institution and department
      • Uniforms: private schools often (I wore blue blazer and tie at The Grange, a private school in Santiago, Chile). See their contemporary version below. It was all male when I was there, fyi.

    

    • Business dress
    • Casual dress
    • Inappropriate dress-ideas?
      • At an academic meeting I attended, two students showed up at a session in bikinis, having just come from the pool
      • Wearing any clothing that distracts others from the lesson
    • Pandemic and staying at home has led to casual clothing wear
      • t-shirts and gym shorts for me
  • Outside of class
    • If you set up an appointment time, honor it.
    • Communicate in some way (call, e-mail, text) if you cannot make appointment.
    • Do it before, not after the appointment time.
  • Terrible Ten
    • 1. Discrimination in an employment situation.
    • 2. Erratic/aggressive driving that endangers others.
    • 3. Taking credit for someone else's work (plagiarism)
    • 4. Treating service providers as inferiors.
    • 5. Jokes or remarks that mock another's race/gender/age/disability/sexual preference or religion.
    • 6. Children who behave aggressively or who bully others.
    • 7. Littering (including trash, spitting, pet waste).
      • Watched a woman walking her dog in OK City recently. She was prepared to pick up and remove her dog's solid waste
    • 8. Misuse of handicapped privileges. (Remember, SAU handicapped parking areas are 24/7)
    • 9. Smoking in non-smoking places or smoking in front of non-smokers without asking.
    • 10. Using cell phones or text messaging in mid- conversation or during an appointment or meeting.
  • Faculty and Civility
    • SAU Title IX Page
    • Book: Academic Incivility
      • Video of Author, Darla Twale
    • Blog: Bullied Academics
    • Faculty, too, should practice civility
      • Respect students
      • Be fair (no "teacher's pets")
      • Answer questions politely
        • Imagine the effect of an instructor responding to a student in class by saying, "That has got to be the STUPIDEST question I've ever heard.
        • Would that student ever ask a question again?
      • Answer e-mails
      • Be accessible
  • Civility in the Internet Age
    • Remember, anything you post on the Internet will be there forever.
    • Don't flame (respond to online comments or e-mail immediately without thinking)
      • Choose to wait before responding or choose not to respond
    • There's a person at the other end of that communication
    • Never communicate online in a manner you would not do face-to-face
    • Use your real name
    • Try to communicate in a positive manner
• URLs
  • TDAS Rules-Willis, J. SAU Centennial History (Be sure to click on rules image and read and see how SAU rules have changed since 1912)
    • (You should know by now that TDAS is "Third District Agricultural School" or SAU's first name)
  • Dr. Forni's Civility Website
  • AAUP on Civility (American Association of University Professors)
  • APA on Academic Civility (American Psychological Association)
    • Here are some rules they suggest:
      • 1. Think carefully before speaking
      • 2. Differentiate and articulate facts from opinions
      • 3. Focus on the common good\
      • 4. Disagree with others respectfully
      • 5. Be open to others without hostility
      • 6. Respect diverse views and groups
      • 7. Offer a spirit of collegiality
      • 8. Offer productive and corrective feedback to those who behave in demeaning, insulting, disrespectful, and discriminatory ways
      • 9. Create a welcoming environment for all
      • 10. Focus corrective feedback on one’s best and most desirable behavior

Back to Main Page