What We Can Learn From Southern Manners

Long associated with courtesy and hospitality, Southern manners remain a source of regional pride even as many Americans worry that civility is declining.

Baristas often provide more than coffee. A friendly greeting and courteous service are among the small acts that help define hospitality. PeopleImages/Shutterstock

Let’s begin with a single word: tacky.

That word was born in the South, probably derived from Carolina Marsh Tacky horses, poor-quality horses resulting from limited breeding. Today, tacky refers to behavior or taste that is gaudy or vulgar, but it’s better explained by way of example than by definition. If you don’t give up your seat on the bus for a pregnant woman, if you don’t hold open the door to the coffee shop for that old gentleman shuffling along with his cane, if you walk down Main Street talking on your phone and lacing the air with expletives, sorry, but your behavior is tacky.