:: Running from the Thought Police ::

:: Monday, May 31, 2004 ::

Maintaining Proper Decorum

My sister's graduation was yesterday. While sitting through the reading of 300+ names (and some pretty crappy speaches, my class' salutatory and valedictory addresses were much better) I was rather forcefully driven to wonder when making an ass of one's self became acceptable behavior. Before any of the names were read the principal asked that everyone hold applause until the end, when the entire class would be presented and applause would then become appropriate. While at least half the families, including ours, held to this rule, many others applauded, yelled inane things, and blew whistles and (annoyingly) airhorns. My grandmother, who was sitting next to me, remarked that if her folks had made that much noise at her high school graduation, she would've been incredibly embarassed. Hell, if MY family had made such noise when I graduated, I would have been embarassed. At situations where appropriate (such as UIUC graduations) mild applause may be acceptable, but how hard is it to follow directions not to applaud until the end of the reading of names? Have my fellow human beings lost that much self control?

:: The Squire 4:52 PM :: email this post :: ::
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