DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m a 63-year-old lady who finds herself regularly advised by strangers that she resembles a well-known actress of comparable age.
I don’t discover this actress notably engaging, and due to this fact don’t know what to say when somebody makes the comparability. I don’t know whether or not to take it as a praise or merely an commentary.
“Thank you” appears to indicate I’m flattered (which I’m not), however I don’t wish to specific offense when none was possible supposed. Is there an alternative choice for reply?
GENTLE READER: “Hmmm.” Uttered flatly with no query mark or inflection apart from one which signifies, “That is something that you just said.”
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When we’ve got a big household dinner, between 10 and 21 individuals, there may be one little one whose dad and mom enable her to be on her pill, with quantity on excessive.
She comes into the home, whizzes by everybody current and goes on to the desk to arrange her pill.
I disapprove of this, and really feel that the host or hostess wants to precise to the dad and mom that gadgets are usually not allowed on the eating desk.
There are different youngsters her age current, however their dad and mom don’t enable them to have their tablets.
My perception is the hostess can set such guidelines. There are others who really feel you can’t inform one other mum or dad learn how to mum or dad their little one. I really feel that it’s “my house, my rules.”
So, Miss Manners, can we inform dad and mom what the rule is at our home, and permit the opposite company a quieter dinner?
GENTLE READER: Why undergo the dad and mom? Miss Manners suggests you go straight to the supply, quietly telling the kid that you’re sorry, however you don’t enable electronics on the dinner desk.
At which level the kid will flip to her dad and mom — and you’ll find one thing pressing to do within the kitchen in order to keep away from eye contact with them.
If the plan is unsuccessful, you possibly can at all times drop a pair of headphones casually at her place setting. In order to no less than guarantee quiet for the others.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I dwell in a gated group. There’s a gate field the place individuals can punch within the code to open the gate and allow them to in.
In my automobiles, I’ve a distant that opens the gate. There have been quite a few events after I’ve been behind somebody trying to enter the code, and I’ve used the distant to open the gate for them.
Is it rude to present a short honk on my automobile horn to let the individual know the gate is opening, or ought to I simply wait till they discover it’s opening, considering they’ve completed it?
GENTLE READER: However then how will they be taught?
Granted, the second possibility is extra entertaining, what with its potential to persuade these drivers that they’re magical. However it’s extra damaging to their studying curve — and your wait time — in the long term.
Miss Manners suggests as a substitute that you just give that temporary honk, adopted by a bit wave and level that claims, “I have the remote. And you do not.”
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her electronic mail, [email protected]; or via postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
