Cigar Etiquette

The courteous smoker knows that even though smoking cigars may be a great source of pleasure in their life, not everyone enjoys the taste or smell of a quality cigar. The importance of not offending others while enjoying a good stogie cannot be stressed enough, particularly considering that the fervor of anti-smoking campaigns is still in full swing. It is therefore especially important remember that while smoking a cigar it can be very difficult to gauge the smell or discomfort that others may be experiencing. Also keep in mind that clothing, furniture, and even the walls will build up a respectable residue from cigar smoke. For these reasons it is exceptionally important to learn to become a considerate and courteous cigar smoker, so that each cigar may be enjoyed with a clean conscience.
When living with non-smokers find a well-ventilated area of the residence where both smoker and non-smoker accommodated. It may be tempting for a smoker to lock himself or herself away in an office or bedroom, but this is not likely to a good idea unless it has a window. Not only is the smoker more likely to inhale dangerous levels of the toxic air from his or her own cigar, but ultimately this is not likely to separate the non-smokers from the smoke adequately to provide for their comfort. If at all possible, go outside to smoke. Put a comfortable chair to relax in on the porch, or make arrangements in any other open area where smoking can be comfortably enjoyed. It is important, particularly in the case of children and the elderly, to get as far away as possible from non-smokers. Remember that cigar smoke contains many carcinogens and irritants that non-smokers have no protection against.
The courteous and respectful smoker will only light up where legally permitted when it is necessary to smoke a cigar away from home. Any bar, restaurant, or hotel where smoking is prohibited should be maintained by both smoker and non-smoker alike as a smoke-free zone. The courteous cigar smoker will also make sure of the preference of those around when he or she is planning to light up in a designated smoking section. When with someone who does not smoke, or whom might dislike cigar smoke, ask his or her permission. Try to be as considerate as possible about smoking, such as striving to make sure the smoke isn't wafting in the direction of someone who is bothered by it. If possible, sit near an open window or space, if air is being drawn away from the crowd by it. Pay attention to whether the air conditioner or other air currents are moving the smoke in the direction of other people. It's also polite to check to see whether anyone around is eating. Secondhand smoke from a discourteous smoker is guaranteed to ruin the meal of a non-smoker.
The cigar ash is also a concern of the courteous cigar smoker. When smoking away from home, make certain to dispose of ashes in a safe manner, such as an appropriate container. Always keep in mind that ashes can easily blow away--lower quality cigars are especially prone to this. Safeguard against ash blowing near or onto other people, and don't litter with ashes.

About the Author:
Richard Brown is an author for several well-known online magazines, on shopping and products and product tips topics.

Restaurant Etiquette

Patrons of a restaurant and employees of a restaurant both need to follow some simple rules of etiquette in order to make each dining experience more enjoyable for everyone.
When dining out at a restaurant it is important to for diners to use some common sense so as not to disrupt the meals of other diners. Restaurant patrons should also treat all restaurant employees fairly and with respect. On the other hand, anyone working at a restaurant should also do the best they can to serve their customers well.
A restaurant’s staff should always work hard to be as neat and clean as possible. When preparing a table for the next set of customers, the wait staff should take their time to thoroughly wipe off the tables (as well as chairs and benches when needed). Wait staff should also place the dining utensils and plates neatly on the table. At fancier restaurants, you will probably even have been instructed on a certain way of setting the table. Take the extra few moments to follow this protocol. Your customers will appreciate a clean and neat table.
As a customer, you should always do your best to arrive on time when you have made reservations at a restaurant. Please keep in mind that there are many other patrons that may be dining at the same locations that evening. If you realize that you are not able to keep your reservations or that you will be more than a few minutes late, call the restaurant to explain the situation. The restaurant staff will appreciate your honesty and thoughtfulness when you call.
If you are a server or hostess/host at a restaurant, you are likely to receive calls from time to time when a customer needs to change or cancel a reservation. Be patient and understanding when you receive one of these phone calls. Your customer may very well have a good reason as to why they will be late. Make every effort to still accommodate the customers if they will be arriving late to the restaurant. Do not treat the customers rudely or unfairly because they have arrived late. Also, if someone calls to cancel their reservations you must be polite. Things do often come up in life that are beyond our control. The customer has not purposely decided to make your shift difficult by canceling their reservation.
As a customer it is important to be considerate of other diners at the restaurant. If at all possible do not take your cell phone into the restaurant with you or place your phone on vibration mode so that it does not ring in the middle of the meal. Do not answer your phone unless necessary. This can be distracting to other customers at the restaurant and may be taking time away from a nice meal with your own family or friends. If your party that is dining is rather large, please do have an enjoyable time. But also do your best not to be too noisy and distracting to other customers. They will most likely show you the same consideration.
When you take your children out to a restaurant with you there will be times when they may get excited, bored or even cranky. Do what you can to teach your children good manners when eating out. Try to bring some crayons and a coloring book with you or other quiet activities to help your children to be on their best behavior.
Even at the best restaurants, there may be times when your food does not meet your satisfaction or is not exactly as you ordered. Perhaps there is a new cook who forgot to add or leave out a particular part of your meal. Maybe the waitress made an error when taking down your request. Sometimes the meal does not take as good as you would like. If you are not satisfied with your food, try to be polite when explaining this to your waiter/waitress.
Explain to your waitress (nicely) that your meal is not satisfactory. Do not be accusatory or rude. Try to carefully explain what you do not like about your meal. For example, perhaps you ordered your steak well done and it is too rare. Maybe you asked for the cooks to hold the peppers and onions on your cheese steak hoagie, only to discover onions and peppers. Calmly explain why you are not satisfied with your food.
Hopefully the restaurant will be able to help you feel better about the error with your order. They may offer to take back your meal in order to make it better for your tastes. If you do not want to wait for your meal to be prepared again, they may offer you a discount off your meal or a coupon on your next visit to the restaurant. Be reasonable when the restaurant tries to accommodate you when you are unhappy about your food.
Restaurant employees should always be kind when someone is not satisfied with their meal. Show the customer patience and respect. Do whatever you can to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of your customer. Also, if you are a cook at a restaurant, make every effort to provide customers with their request even if unusual or out of the ordinary. If they want their meal plain and do not want various items that you think “make the meal” accommodate the customer. Everyone has their own individual tastes as well as diets they like to follow.
Customers should always try to remember to thank your waitress or waiter before you leave the restaurant. If you see any of the other helpful employees of the restaurant, thank them or wish them a good day/evening as well. When leaving your tip, take into consideration the service you received. It is acceptable to leave a little less when service was not up to par. However, if you were well taken care of by the wait staff, try to leave a little higher of a tip if you can. On average the standard tip is 15-20% of the price of your meal.
If everyone follows a few simple tips at a restaurant, everyone is likely to have a good experience eating out. Happy Dining!

Cigar Smoking Etiquette

Smoking cigars may be a great source of pleasure in your life, but the courteous smoker knows that not everyone enjoys the taste (or smell!) of a good Cuban. With the fervor of anti-smoking campaigns still in full swing, the importance of enjoying a good stogie while not offending others cannot be stressed enough. Simply remember that while you are smoking a cigar, it can be difficult to gauge the smell that others are experiencing. And don't forget that cigar smokes can leave a mighty strong residue on clothing, furniture, and even the walls! In order to enjoy your stogie without a heavy conscience, learn to become a considerate and courteous cigar smoker.

If you live with non-smokers, try to find a well-ventilated area of your residence where you can smoke comfortably. Although it may be tempting to lock yourself away in an office or bedroom, it's probably not a good idea to smoke in an enclosed area unless it has a window. Make sure you have easy access to the window. Never smoke in a closed area! You are more likely to inhale the toxic air from your own cigar. If possible, go outside to smoke. Pull up a lawn chair; relax on the porch, or any other open area where you can smoke comfortably. Get as far away as possible to non-smokers, especially children and the elderly. Remember that cigar smoke contains many carcinogens that can be easily inhaled by non-smokers.

If you must smoke a cigar outside your home, remember that the courteous and respectful smoker will only light up where legally permitted. Do no light up in a bar, hotel, or restaurant where smoking is clearly prohibited. The courteous cigar smoker will also make sure to smoke in the company of other smokers. If you are with someone who does not smoke, ask his or her permission. If they agree, be considerate about it. Make sure the smoke isn't wafting in their direction. Sit near an open window or space. Make sure the air conditioner or current is moving the smoke in their direction! Also, make sure no one around you is eating. The secondhand smoke from a discourteous smoker is a surefire way to ruin a meal.

A courteous cigar smoker will also be aware of their ashes. If you must smoke outside your home, make certain to dispose of your ashes in a safe and appropriate container. Don't forget that ashes can easily blow away, especially in lower quality cigars. Don't litter with ashes, and be careful they don't blow near anyone around you.

Good Golf Etiquette

Few other sports depend so greatly on the integrity and good temperament of the players than golf. Unlike other sports, golf does not depend on the supervision of referees or umpires. Players are expected to both understand the rules and etiquette of the game. Golf is a game that relies not only on skill and talent, but also on proper conduct and sportsmanship. Good etiquette on the green will ensure maximum enjoyment of the game for all players.
Golf is gentleman’s and gentlewoman’s sport. Players should take the time to study the rules of the game. The rules serve to improve the game by sustaining the pace of play, maintaining the quality of the golf course, and ensuring the safety of the players. The spirit of the game depends on players demonstrating discipline and sportsmanship at all times regardless of how competitive they are. If you are new to the game, or just need to refresh your golf etiquette, here are some basic considerations that will help keep the game enjoyable for you and those around you.
Golfers must always play without delay, in order to maintain the pace of the game. The pace of the game requires players to ready to hit the ball when their turn arrives. The order of play is always the farthest from the whole first. Players should carry two uniquely marked balls. In order to reduce the time for taking a shot, players should study the shot while the other players are preparing to hit. A player should always hit the shot within 45 seconds of the previous player’s stroke. Golfers should never crowd the previous group or lag behind.
On the green, golfers must fix their ball marks with care. They should not leave bare ground or smooth surface where the ball mark was. Golfers should never dig under a ball mark or leverage the soil upward. Players should always remove the peg from the tee after hitting. It is a breach of etiquette to leave a tee or push the tee into the ground. On the bunkers, players should leave the bunker as they found it. A few strokes of the rake will smooth the sand and remove any trace of footprints. The golden rule is to leave the golf course as the player found it and avoid excessive damage.
Although golf is not a contact sport, players must avoid injuring themselves or fellow golfers. One player is permitted on the tee at a time. Players should never stand behind a golfer on the tee or anywhere on the course. Players should always be mindful of the group in front of them. If a golfer is hitting is the direction of other players, the golfer should shout the traditional warning of “fore”.
Golf etiquette is an essential part of the game. Consideration of other golfers is absolutely required. Players must be still and silent while other players are hitting. Disturbing or distracting another player is simply unacceptable and contradictory to the spirit of the game. Everyone wants to score and play well on the golf courseBusiness Management Articles, but good golf also depends on having a good attitude and being extremely considerate.