DEAR MISS MANNERS: When internet hosting a cocktail hour, how does the hostess gracefully navigate the amount of meals served?
For instance, if the cheese platter is decreased to a couple bites, ought to the hostess be consistently monitoring and replenishing it, even when the deliberate “hour” has handed?
I actually don’t need to seem stingy with friends. However bringing out extra meals appears to encourage lingering and drifting into time for supper and past.
I used to be taught that as a visitor, I mustn’t take the final piece of something — crackers, nuts, sweet or cheese. Is that also the case? It appears to me that vacant platters ought to sign that it’s time to say “thanks and goodbye.” However does it seem churlish to go away the bowls and platters empty?
GENTLE READER: Fill or clear any empty receptacle, during which class Miss Manners contains the friends.
So if Uncle Lance is lingering by the dessert desk, hoping for one thing extra, swoop him up and introduce him to any obtainable visitor within the subsequent room. Finally the desk shall be empty and the friends will get the thought and go residence.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m presently being handled for a medical downside. The problem is predicted to completely resolve in time, however it’s briefly forcing me to work part-time, and prevents me from collaborating in sure actions which might be commonplace in my line of labor.
I subsequently have to elucidate to shoppers and others that my present availability is restricted. I normally give them an abbreviated model of the explanation, simply so that they know that I’m not making one thing as much as keep away from doing the work or to provide myself extra time to get it finished.
Most individuals simply sympathize and want me a speedy restoration, which is ok. However some interject very spiritual needs for me, akin to assuring me that “The good Lord is looking out for you and will take care of you for a full recovery.”
This makes me uncomfortable — first as a result of I don’t admire inserting spiritual beliefs into enterprise transactions on the whole, and second as a result of I don’t subscribe to the identical faith because the particular person making this assertion.
I do know that individuals who say this imply properly, so I normally simply say “Thank you” and attempt to transfer rapidly to a different subject. Is there a swish option to discourage these feedback?
GENTLE READER: Here’s a perhaps-novel option to discourage folks from introducing their private beliefs into skilled dealings: Don’t you do it first.
This contains stating your perception that your explanations is probably not believed.
Relatively than abbreviate your medical analysis, omit it completely. You possibly can cease speaking after saying, “I have a medical condition that temporarily requires me to work part-time,” and Miss Manners thinks you’ve got each probability of being taken at your phrase.
She can’t promise an prompt restoration for the present pandemic of Too A lot Info: You should still must say “thank you” from spiritual well-wishers and transfer on. However it’s a begin.
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her electronic mail, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or by postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
