#etiquette

#etiquette

When I was finished using the facilities, I opened the door and faced a woman standing squarely in my way, scowling at me. After holding the scowl for a few silent moments, she said, I thought you'd never leave. Taken aback, I merely laughed awkwardly as we sidled past each other. Miss Manners, I promise I did not take an inordinate amount of time in the restroom. Was there a better way to respond?

Restaurant patrons should not be asking such questions, but Miss Manners understands that they do and that appearing to be offended or unfriendly can have adverse consequences for both the business and your employment. The polite response is to say, in a bright, friendly way, No, I'm from here before moving on to restaurant business. This will not lessen your own annoyance at being asked, but if it ever-so-slightly embarrasses the patron, perhaps you will have saved the next employee from such unwanted attention.

As soon as the children start descending, look around for parents or loudly ask the children where they are. (If the children are not old enough to respond, just get louder.) Once the parents have been located, say to the kids, You might want to tell your parents that you are here, because I'm not sure how long we will stay. And we don't want to abandon you.

By saying that he regrets that he is unable to accept their kind invitation. Yes, Miss Manners knows that you do not consider it kind. The omission was wrong whether or not it was related to those altercations as was the employee's failure to understand that this is not a business occasion. But Miss Manners is trying to keep you from making the working relationship even worse.

GENTLE READER: Unless the first thank-you letter ended with, And Jane says, Thanks for nothing where's my dress?' it is fine nay, charming to send a second letter without referencing the first. But if your mother is able to text your aunt, she has her contact information. Miss Manners is not suggesting you have to use it; she is just curious why, despite the dozens of relatives, you cannot seem to figure out how to find this aunt's number.

For many years, I have been friends with a person who is intellectually disabled. I became acquainted with him and his sister, who cared for him; his sister has now died, and he is living independently. I take him on family camping trips, take him to lunches and dinners and visit with him often, as does the rest of my family. He and my son have developed a solid friendship. After his sister died, his sister's longtime best friend became his legal guardian. She thanks me for the things I do for and with him e.g., Thank you for taking (name) camping, etc. I knew him for years before I ever met her. Is it wrong or petty of me to resent her thank-yous? I do not feel they are necessary, as my friendship with this man is something I chose, not something I am doing out of the goodness of my heart or any other such sentiment. How do I handle this? GENTLE READER: By responding each time with, No, no, it is I who am thankful to have such a good friend.

Chopsticks date back millennia, with the earliest examples in China appearing as early as 1200 B.C. Originally used as cooking tools for stirring pots and retrieving food from hot oil, they gradually made their way to the dining table. By around 400 A.D., chopsticks were more common as eating utensils, and within another century, they had spread widely throughout East Asia, from Vietnam to Japan.

When I thought they were finished, I placed my items on the counter and moved forward to the credit card reader, accidentally bumping into one of the men. He turned to me and said: Well, you're in a hurry, aren't you? His manner was aggressive and his expression was hostile. I just stared at him, taken aback. What should I have said or done?

"Proper etiquette is essential in customer service, and retaining tips should be viewed with ethics and respect for paying consumers. The actions of service providers impact their reputation and future interactions with customers."

As a host, you cannot properly leave your own party, even though Miss Manners understands both that it has become a bore for you and that the guests are unlikely to notice your absence.

Unless you live in a historic property, are throwing a housewarming party or are orienting a houseguest, tours smack of showing off.

You are tempting Miss Manners to guess why you don't get along with your daughter's family.

Festivals are fantastic opportunities for creating memories, but remember to balance personal documentation with respect for fellow attendees who also wish to enjoy the experience.

"One can enforce a building rule rudely and one can enforce it politely, but you appear to be asking if the rule itself is rude."

The prevailing rule of etiquette discourages people from giving unsolicited advice about others' parenting choices, even when concern arises about potential health risks for children.

Imagine a world in which it was wrong to decline any invitation: An acquaintance invites you to come over for a house-painting party. A rejected lover invites you on a trip. A teenager invites you to go skydiving. Just nuts, as you have already concluded.

Etiquette is not in the business of making everything exactly fair. Unless things are overtly unfair, it is more polite not to notice.

When ordering from Starbucks, ensure you select the correct pickup location on the app to prevent confusion at the store or drive-thru.