Properness for Dummies

Properness is a word that describes how well something or someone follows the rules or conventions that are generally accepted by society. It relates to behaving or acting in a way that is considered appropriate or correct in a given situation.

Let's imagine you are playing a game with your friends. In order to play the game properly, you need to understand and follow the rules that everyone has agreed upon. This means not cheating, not being rude or disrespectful to others, and playing in a fair and honest manner. So, in this context, properness would mean adhering to these rules and behaving in a way that is considered appropriate for the game.

But properness doesn't only apply to games. It also applies to the way we behave in our everyday lives. You can think of it as a kind of guide or set of guidelines that helps us interact with others in a respectful and acceptable way. For example, when speaking to your teacher or a grown-up, using polite words and showing respect is considered proper behavior. It's important to understand that properness can vary depending on the situation and cultural norms. What might be considered proper in one country or community, might not be seen the same way in another.

Another aspect of properness is related to personal appearance and hygiene. For instance, if you're going to school, wearing clean clothes and maintaining good personal hygiene is considered proper. It's important to present ourselves in a way that shows we care about ourselves and those around us. This is a form of properness in terms of our physical appearance.

So, properness is all about following the rules, acting in a way that is considered appropriate, and presenting ourselves in a manner that is respectful and acceptable to others. It's like having a compass to guide our behavior and help us make choices that are right for the given situation.

Do you remember when we talked about playing games? Let's think about it some more. If you were playing a basketball game, would you be playing properly if you picked up the ball and started running with it like you were playing football? Probably not! Basketball has its own rules and ways of playing, and if you don't follow those rules, you're not playing the game properly.

In a similar way, properness is like understanding the rules and expectations of different situations in life and following them. It's like knowing how to act and behave in a way that shows respect for others and helps maintain order and harmony in our interactions.

So, to sum it up, properness is about following rules, acting in a way that is appropriate for the situation, and showing respect and consideration for others. It's like having a roadmap or a set of guidelines that help us navigate through different aspects of life in a way that is socially acceptable and promotes positive interactions.

I hope this explanation helps you understand what properness means. If you have any more questions or would like further examples, feel free to ask!