Social Graces
My mom has always told me (and others), while reminiscing on my childhood, that I’ve always been prim and proper since I was wee kid.
Apparently (and I don’t really have much memory of this), whenever she announced that we were going out, I would get dressed in my nicest dress and put on my pretty socks and dainty shoes, as opposed to my sister who would usually just go out dressed in her favorite shorts, singlet, and slippers 
So it’s no wonder, that up to this day, I have somewhat maintained my prim and proper image and I also expect other adults to maintain some sort of social etiquette as well, since it is good manners to do so. Regardless if you’re with mere acquaintances or your BFF or your partner who was seen your grossest and most disgusting habit.
Thankfully, females are much better at this than males. Males, unfortunately, have a long way to go. Sometimes, I wonder if they’re still in the Neandarthal (is this the correct term?) age, the way they go about in public.
1. Farting and burping indiscreetly in public is a big NO NO. If you have a silent fart or burp, then maybe you might get away with it but usually the silent ones are the killers (read : fragrance-wise) so if possible, DON’T do it.
2. There will be enough food to go around. We’re not in a starving third-world country. You don’t have to eat like there’s no tomorrow. It’s so unappealing to watch your dinner partner/mates stuff their faces like they’ve not eaten for days. So gelojoh!
3. If you’re wearing a light-colored shirt, don’t go order something like Hokkien mee unless you’re a very careful eater or you have a bib. Nothing creates a worse impression than going into a meeting and having someone’s black sauce-spattered shirt staring at you the entire meeting. Disgusting! On the same note and further from point #2, this is the reason you should eat slowly and carefully i.e. so you don’t mess up your shirt (and tie, for guys) and look like you’ve had a fight with your lunch.
4. Personal hygiene — I don’t need to go thru this because I have touched on it before.
5. Posture!!! Some people’s postures are really bad. You can see tummies hanging out, butts sticking out, and shoulders slouched when standing or walking. And while sitting, the worst is legs that are terkangkang-ed for the whole world to see (I don’t care if you’re a guy wearing pants or a girl wearing a miniskirt). It’s equally obscene! Do you know that by just standing an inch straighter, you can look miles taller?
Yes, I’m quite anal about these things and I notice all these about people and though I may not tell you about it (maybe because I’m not close to you enough to care), I’ve already formed an impression of you in my mind. About your social manners, that is.
Anyway, these things are nothing extraordinary or require additional effort to practice. We were all brought up to observe these common social manners anyway, so I don’t see anything new or totally out of this world about them.
Always a pessimistic idealist… the perfectionist… animal lover… dance enthusiast… and snob to people who don’t know me. Coz I’ve got the “proud peacock look”, according to a friend. Ah well… always takes one to know one, no? 
