Human-Computer Etiquette

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14

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Manners Maketh Machine

P.A. HANCOCK

14.1 Introduction

Manners must adorn knowledge, and smooth its way through the

world.

Lord Chestereld

ere is an old English saying that “Manners maketh man.” e origi-

nal quotation is attributed to William of Wykeham

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and is a simple

aphorism that acknowledges the tacit assumption that for human

beings to live and thrive collectively, there must be a degree of formal-

ization about their social intercourse. Although the bedrock of such

mutual behavior would seem to be the law, our actual sharing of com-

mon assumptions goes much deeper. For we must all learn the social

conventions rst ...