ArcaMax

DEAR MISS MANNERS: It is like a compulsion for many people to forward emails they've received, usually filled with jokes and such. To my surprise, many seem to enjoy those emails.

I stopped everybody from forwarding me those emails by telling them the truth: If I want jokes, I will buy a book of jokes. I have TV sets, radios, newspapers and all...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a 25-year-old-lawyer who worked as a law clerk for a year before passing the bar exam. When I accompany the partner to hearings where a client is present, I invariably get asked whether I am still in law school or how I like being a paralegal.

What is the appropriate response? Also, when I am in the office, sometimes ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As my guests were all sitting around in my living room after a nice dinner, one friend took their socks off. This has happened three times in the past two months.

One time, they said, "I hope you don't mind, but I have to take my socks off." By then, one sock was already off.

I was shocked and didn't know what to do. If it ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was in a medical office waiting room while my husband was having a test done. I was the only one sitting in the waiting room initially, until another person arrived. She had her cellphone on, and was watching a program when she walked in the facility. No one was at the front desk at the time of her arrival.

The volume was ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Do you have a suitable answer to those who say to me, an older woman, "You must have been attractive when you were young," or after looking at an earlier photo, "Is that you?"

I also feel uncomfortable when being referred to as a "young lady" or a "girl," and being told I'm "X years young," or being asked "How old are you?"

...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My sister's hardwood floors were being refinished, so I said it was fine for her to sleep on my sofa bed in my one-bedroom apartment for four nights. Knowing that she is VERY SENSITIVE to noise, I reminded her to bring her earplugs.

Around 10:15 p.m., she told me that she heard my TV (I already had the volume much lower than ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I believe what I buy at the grocery store is my own business, whether it's carrots and onions or products whose purpose would be embarrassing if explained. I wish supermarkets would train their staff not to comment on customer purchases, no matter how benign the sentiment. ("Oh, I like those cookies!")

Questions about ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: There was a 60-year member of our church who lived in our town all of her life, enjoying a 70-year marriage and raising four children here. In her 80s, she was widowed and lucky enough to remarry.

When she passed on, I was shocked to see that her newspaper obituary omitted any reference to her first marriage, her church, and ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter married a very nice man 18 months ago. We have had some contact with the in-laws, and are friendly.

The mother-in-law tends to be very negative, and is known to say unkind things about whoever isn't present. I ran into her while shopping, and she went into how she was worried about my daughter: She looks sad, she ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I went on a trip to visit my mother-in-law. While we were there, she suggested that my husband's brother and wife also join us for dinner. We rarely see them and my husband thought it was a great idea.

A little background: In the last six months, I was very ill and lost a substantial amount of weight. I am now ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have an unusual first name. When I am introduced to a new acquaintance, often they will make a comment. When the comment is, "What a pretty name!" or "How lovely!" it is easy to respond with, "Thank you."

But when the comment is, "Oh that's different," how does one respond? "Yes" seems a bit weak.

GENTLE READER: Well, it's...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In my senior year of high school, I got pregnant, and back in those times, I was not allowed to graduate. I married my child's father and raised two children with him. We were divorced many years later, mostly because we had not finished growing up when we married.

I did go on to attend classes at a local community college, ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A friend told me he had been contacted by his former college roommate. Clyde and Stan are in their 60s and live in different states. They have remained good friends since college, and see each other sporadically at informal reunions of their large group of common college friends.

Stan's daughter is getting married and he is ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I hosted a brunch gathering of about 10 people at our home. We offered a wide spread of food and drinks, and we used paper plates and napkins to make cleaning up a little easier -- and also because I'm in my third trimester and frankly, the idea of cleaning that many dishes had me feeling exhausted.

It was a ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How should one respond when an acquaintance asks, "Have I done something to offend you?"

I have a neighbor with whom I've tried to be friendly. Over the course of a few months, she's made unpleasant remarks, overstepped invitations to my home and insistently passed on information that I knew to be false.

For example, I had ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: On the 4th of July every year, my dear friends have a three- to four-day get-together, where families come and camp out on their property. We cook out, we all play sports and board games, we sit around the campfire and, for the grand finale, we have a huge fireworks show.

I noticed the year prior that not everyone pitched in ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My dear mother told me that one should never clap for the speakers at Memorial Day observances, and that one should depart in silence to mark the solemnity of the occasion. At a Memorial Day event, I noticed that everyone clapped for the speakers and chatted casually at the end of the event.

Was my dear mother mistaken?

...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A sibling has disclosed that they and their spouse have been nudists for years, and intend to retire and move to a clothing-optional community.

I have no objection to their lifestyle choice if it makes them happy, but I have no desire to partake of said lifestyle.

How does one respond to an invitation to visit in those ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was delighted to be invited to a baby shower for my daughter, hosted by two of her friends. I thanked them for their generosity and asked if I could bring anything. I also asked if they would like photos of my daughter as a baby. They said yes to the photos, so I sent five pictures (no naked or embarrassing ones) and thought...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live on a private lane of just five houses, each with large surrounding fields. After mowing my (perfectly dry) field, I went over to my neighbors' to perform a courtesy mow of theirs, as they both work full-time.

On the second turn, my full-size tractor sank deep into the mud, and any attempt at freeing it merely dug it in...Read more