The only thing Southerners might love more than good manners is judging those who don’t have them. Of course, certain traditions and rules have become defunct and seem downright ridiculous now. For example, a man kissing a woman's hand when he meets her would probably result in a lawsuit. But good manners in principle will always be a thing — it's just the way in which we apply them that's changed.
And news ones have to be created, especially around technology. What I'm trying to say is, you're welcome, y'all — the do's and don'ts for appropriate behavior when another individual's mini computer/life force is in your possession are finally here.
I know not everyone has one but smartphones are part of our daily existence now so there could be an entire etiquette book dedicated to them. Let's start with this—use headphones if you’re going to listen to music in public. How is this offense still happening? Talking on speakerphone in public is also aggressive but I’ll give a pass if the offender is over 65.
Read more: Southern mom-isms about minding your manners
But the below rules specifically address what's acceptable when you're dealing with someone else's phone, a scenario that's bound to happen during social interactions both personally and professionally in this 21st-century existence. Here's the (Southern?) manners guide you've been searching for.
Okay, this should seem like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how trigger-happy people get with their little thumbs once a phone screen is within reach. (My husband would readily say that I am one of these people by the way, so, takes one to know one). It’s like an involuntary reflex to start scrolling through the photos. What are we hoping to find by doing this? We can't even tell you! It's just instinctive. But unless the person says, “Here’s an album of our Labradoodle, Trixie, take a look at all these displays of her cuteness caught on camera,” don't start swiping through their pics.
This is just good hygiene. Wash your hands, people! Don't go straight from pawing some potato chips from a greasy bag to grazing their phone screen with oily finger pads. Did you like that description? I feel like I painted it pretty well, TBH. No one should have to deep sanitize their phone after graciously letting another person select their lunch preference from the restaurant's online order menu.
Get the latest from It's a Southern Thing by subscribing to our newsletter, where you'll find the latest videos, stories and merchandise.
…unless they ask you to, then offer to send a reply. If a call starts coming through, it’s polite to say, “Your Mom is calling, do you want to take it?” And respect their decision to answer it, ignore it, or waiver on the decision until the call goes to voicemail, debating aloud if it’s really worth getting into it again with their mother over whether or not they’re going to have a gender-reveal party for the baby on the way.
(Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
There are two types of people in this world—those who must clear out any and all notifications, from red dots to unread emails, immediately, keeping both their phone and psyche clear of the stress of any potentially missed communications, and those who exist on a daily basis with thousands of unopened messages. I fall in the former camp but I respect the latter's choice to live their technological life however they please. It's REALLY tempting to start clearing their apps but you must resist, and just silently wonder how they sleep at night.
Of course, they may be well aware of this already and just continuously willing to live life on the edge. If that’s their choice, respect them for it and trust that they are equipped to experience the consequences and quite possibly learn from them…or obviously offer them a charge if you’ve got one.
Comments like, "Wow, Apple maps, huh? What year is it?" aren't necessary. If they're kind enough to be driving you and have designated you the navigator, respect their decision to use the app they're most comfortable with! Yes, I am speaking from personal experience as a longtime Apple maps devotee!
Just kidding, people who do this are serial killers.
34 rules our Southern parents taught us
There is a war on thank-you notes, and it must be stopped
19 signs someone was raised right
The Hallmark Channel is known for its warm-and-fuzzy movies about love and weddings and finding our bliss. The writers go more for the cozy, comforting titles than the creative, such as "Love's Enduring Promise" or "Love Comes Softly" or "Love Finds a Home."
There's no arguing the folks at Hallmark have found a profitable niche -- everyone loves watching. But what if Hallmark had another division, one that specialized in horror movies? What would the film titles be?
Here's what we think:
Get the latest from It's a Southern Thing by subscribing to our newsletter, where you'll find the latest videos, stories and merchandise.
Read more: 21 things to buy if you love Hallmark movies
12 Southern monsters that would make perfect costumes
Halloween candy that is underappreciated
10 things every Southerner has done on Halloween
Everyone knows how Southerners act when the calendar tells us it's fall. We pull out sweaters and blankets and fuzzy slippers – only to walk outside and find it's still 80 degrees outside. Sometimes, a true fall doesn't arrive until late November or early December and, then, it lasts only a week or so.
Fall is just different here. Have you done any of the "fall" things we listed below?
Get the latest from It's a Southern Thing by subscribing to our newsletter, where you'll find the latest videos, stories and merchandise.
Read more: 15 things you may not know about state fairs
Read more: A Southern woman would always survive a horror film
Read more: 26 places to enjoy fall in the South
READ: Southern words that confuse people in the rest of the country
READ: 19 ways Southerners say hello and goodbye
READ: 25 of the best lines in Southern movies
READ: Southern mama rules about how to behave in public
READ: Words that sound the same when (some) Southerners say them
READ: The meanings behind 15 pieces of wisdom your Southern grandma taught you
READ: Misheard words: How old were you when you learned you'd been spelling these wrong?
A tree older than America? You can find it in Long Beach on the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus!
This story is presented by Visit Mississippi.
Sometimes, you just need a classic road trip — an old-fashioned drive down the highway, looking for billboards on the side of the road that direct you to quirky attractions like the country’s largest ball of yarn. It’s a true trip of leisure, where the journey is more important than the destination. There’s no such thing as too many stops on this kind of trip. And lucky for you, Mississippi is full of unique attractions worth pulling over for.
Kermit, from the mind of Jim Henson, is a Mississippian!(Visit Mississippi)
In the small town of Leland, Mississippi, on the banks of Deer Creek, you’ll discover the birthplace of America’s favorite frog. That’s right — Kermit, from the mind of Jim Henson, is a Mississippian! The exhibit also features Henson family photos and a gift shop. Admission is free, and tours are available upon request.
In this small town, peek down into the Artesian well and you may be shocked to see bright red water. Though an uncommon color for water, it’s totally safe to drink. The red coloring is due to minerals in the water.
The Frog Art Farm FayetteVi
Visit the small town of Flora to explore a petrified forest.(Visit Mississippi)
Opened in 1963, the Mississippi Petrified Forest is a must-visit destination in Flora. It features both an indoor rock display and an outdoor walking trail. There’s even a section for kids to play in a gem-mining flume, rinsing bags of “muck” in the water to discover beautiful gems. There’s also a campground in case you want to extend your trip!
Drive down the highway in Oxford, and you’ll pass right by the largest cedar bucket in the world. It was originally built in 1985 as a promotional gimmick for a furniture store, and The Cedar Bucket Furniture Company still owns the bucket today. The bucket, standing at a whopping seven feet tall, is kept in an outdoor gazebo. It can hold 1,500 gallons of water.
Explor Mardi Gras history in Biloxi!(The Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum)
The Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum Biloxi
Explore 300 years of Mardi Gras celebrations in coastal Mississippi in Biloxi at the Mardi Gras Museum. You may be surprised to find out that Mardi Gras on the coast predates the more widely known Louisiana festival. There’s a lot of interesting history, of course, but the real draw is the unique and colorful Mardi Gras costumes.
The culmination of seven years of work, Palestine Gardens is a realistic miniature model of the Christian Holy Land, including buildings and topography. Built out of cinder blocks and concrete, one yard equals one mile in the scale. It originally opened for viewing in 1960, and though it’s gone through a restoration, some of the original cities remain. It’s a little off the beaten path, so finding the gardens is an adventure in itself!
Isn't this tire man a cool sight?Celia Hillhouse
Just north of the city limits in Bruce, right across the street from Bruce Cemetery, stands the tire man. Built out of tires — what else? — the 20-foot-tall tire man can be seen standing in a field and waving to all the cars driving by.
If you love blues music, you have to visit the Devil's Crossroads.(Visit Mississippi)
Blues lovers can’t miss stopping by the Devil’s Crossroads. The famous spot in the Delta town of Clarksdale is where musician Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his guitar-playing skills. The intersection is marked with three big guitars at the corner of Highway 61 and Highway 49. Read on to find out more about Mississippi's role in the blues.
A tree older than America? You can find it in Long Beach on the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus! The southern oak is thought to have sprouted in 1487, making it over 500 years old. As legend has it, anyone who stands under the tree’s shade will stay friends for life.
You'll love this tiny museum in Hattiesburg.(Visit Mississippi)
The tiniest museum in Mississippi can be found in an alley in Hattiesburg. Visitors will discover a large mural, 3-D art, and a bunch of tiny characters hidden around the alleyway. The exhibits are changed monthly, so it’s always worth stopping by to see what’s new!
If you’re not paying attention, it can be easy to miss the fun, quirky and unique stops that make road trips fun! When you plan a trip to Mississippi, make sure to factor in extra time to stop at these destinations—you won’t be able to find them anywhere else!
The ultimate Mississippi gas station food trial
Explore civil rights history in Mississippi
These biking trails show off the Magnolia State's beauty