Personal comments private property

Publicity is a word we hear a lot and can be defined as "the state of being public or open to general observation or knowledge."

In opposition, there is an idea we call privacy, with a definition that reads "the state of being free from intrusion or disturbance."

A polite society would clearly see the division between the two and respect those boundaries. However, I am sad to report I am not a resident of a polite society.

Public conversation has forever been the intrigue of social manners. Basic rules include not speaking of a specific religion, criticizing a nearby person or speaking too loud. If you choose to break these rules, you run the risk of a rude reputation, maybe even a punch to the face.

However, most disgruntled onlookers will turn their nose up at you and walk the other way. It's when you have a reaction to their reaction that major issues are introduced.

Picture the situation—we've all been here. A person gets in the coffee line behind you. They have on a pink tube top three sizes too small and a mini skirt that looks as if it might suffocate any minute. You think to yourself, "Gross!"

Your next move is to make a clever joke to your friend about the fatty standing behind you and how she ought to roll into some more clothes.

The prudent professor in front of you catches a part of your comment and throws you a dirty look.

You turn bright red and you're suddenly glad you tossed on deodorant that morning. You awkwardly die down the conversation and move on with your day. On the polite society scale, for showing shame and admittance, you earn a B minus.

Now, imagine this going another way. You see the roly poly, you make the comment and the superior person shows disapproval. However, this time, you respond in a different way to the professor. You say "Hey! What are you looking at? You got a problem?" Quick to defend their position they say, "Yes, you were being incredibly rude."

You go into a long winded speech about how no one respects privacy anymore, your rights as American citizen are being challenged, and yatta yatta yatta.

The person giving the dirty look is now embarrassed on account of your behavior.

The person behind you is probably emotionally damaged, and the rest of the crowd is just plain annoyed.

The issue here is public vs. private. If you wish to have a private conversation, it is advised to not have it in public.

No matter what you say, it is under the observation of others if you are in public. And the onlooker, in the polite society notebook, gets a golden A.

They pointed out your unprecedented comment, which they did not choose to hear but rather, picked up on from your "private" conversation.

What we take away from this example is to always be aware of your surroundings and respect those around you by choosing appropriate subject matter in public.

And if you happen to slip up and get called out, put your tail between your legs and walk back to a dictionary between the words "private" and "public," instead of making a scene of public humiliation.