BREAKING BAD
Self-absorption, selfishness, vanity and envy. Society’s worst characteristics are embodied and being reflected back at us on some of reality TV’s most popular shows: “Jon and Kate plus eight;” “The Rachel Zoe Project;” The E Channel's “Leave it to Lamas,” and of course, “The Real Housewives” series on Bravo. They are just a few of the worst offenders bur there are so many more. The misanthropes and malfeasance of reality TV are at the core of an ever increasing rash of bad manners we can see not only on television but also in real life from our homes to the office.
That’s why etiquette expert, Charmaine Campbell, says her services are needed now more than ever. The idea for her company came ten years ago when, as an MBA candidate at John Hopkins University, she says she was appalled, “at how people dressed;” the wardrobe challenged who would show up at class looking scruffy and unkept.
She thought adults could benefit from a finishing school as much as young people. The finishing school is still in the works but, in the meantime, Campbell did write a book, “Money Cannot Buy Class, It Comes From Within” and started an etiquette consulting company, Chic International, both of which, she says, has everything you need to put your best foot forward. “There’s a basic lack of civility that needs to be addressed, there’s not enough respect for ourselves and others.” Campbell will be soon be conducting etiquette seminars for young people and her book, in addition to Amazon, is now available at Miami's Books & Books and Washington, DC's Howard University and soon other book stores across the country.
