She left her cart in front of me, so I stepped around it.
Miss Manners has gotten dozens of these lately. Aren’t people advised to eat before they shop, so they won’t overbuy? Maybe if they weren’t hungry, they wouldn’t be quite so growly.
Leaving is the best solution to such public rudeness. But if you had to stay to retrieve your groceries, you could have said, “I didn’t know how long you would be away, and I didn’t want to hold up the line.”As someone with limited mobility, I must often take cabs. I once found myself in a taxi, for an hourlong ride, with a driver who read “alternative” news sites, believed in conspiracy theories and apparently wanted to talk about them.
I’d like to know if there is a gentler way to end these types of conversations — both for etiquette’s sake, and to avoid upsetting someone enough to be left on the side of the road.Time was when taxi drivers’ political talk was considered a significant indication of public opinion. Reams about the state of the nation were written by pundits based on conversations during their transportation to the office.
How enlightening that was, Miss Manners cannot presume to say. But the toxic state of current political discourse makes the casual airing of opinions among strangers unappealing, if not dangerous. Even stating why you find this upsetting could open a debate. All you need to say is, “I’m afraid I need some quiet time.”When meeting other people at a restaurant, often the host asks the first to arrive if they wish to be seated or to wait for the rest of the party to arrive. Is it proper to be seated ahead of the others? If so, is it proper to order drinks or appetizers while waiting?Only if they are really late, and you greet them by saying, “I know you wouldn’t have wanted us to wait.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Miss Manners: Must I resist my urge when I’m told to have a blessed day?I don’t want to be rude, but this flaunting of religion is offensive.
Read more »
Miss Manners: Atheist bristles at ‘have a blessed day’Is there a polite way to respond that also gently tells the other person that that phrase is inappropriate and unwelcome?
Read more »
Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel wins Miss Universe CompetitionThumping music rang out, and she was handed a bouquet of flowers, draped in the winner's sash, and crowned with a tiara.
Read more »
Miss Universe pageant: Miss USA, R’Bonney Gabriel, crownedMiss Universe is an eco-friendly fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor from Houston, Texas.
Read more »
Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel wins Miss Universe CompetitionThe Texas fashion designer is the first Filipina American to win Miss Universe. She beat out 83 other contestants on Saturday night in New Orleans.
Read more »
Houston's moon-wearing Miss USA, R'Bonney Gabriel, crowned Miss UniverseR'Bonney Gabriel of Friendswood was crowned the 71st Miss Universe Saturday night. She is...
Read more »