civilities

And others skipped the civilities entirely: “Killer Cops GTFO,” read one, referring to Sperl’s past career as a police officer in Stanton where he shot a 5-year-old boy in a killing ruled accidental.

“No one looks at you, no one assesses you. It lifts the tiny anvil of self-consciousness. You can go anywhere, unimpeded by the microaggressions of strangers, the obligatory, waterlogged civilities of friends and acquaintances.”

They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet’s civilities.

And while people tsk-tsk at the increasing incivility of life, a bath is one of the few civilities we have left.

Indeed, the niceties of the simplest pedestrian civilities can overwhelm the more cautious among us.