more about: relationships
Would You Rather Interact With a Human or a Machine?
This morning on the way to work I had to stop at the bank to deposit a check. I do not—ever—deposit checks by ATM, mostly because I don’t want to learn how to do [...]
Holidays or HOLYdays?
“Ms. Slatalla, your advice on holiday hosting is not only wrong, it’s rude. First off, the holidays are HOLYdays, based on religious celebration and ritual.” This week, a reader named loschinchi wrote to say it’s not [...]
Modern Manners: Family Food Fight
“I have relatives who will bring raw meat to a family barbecue without being asked, and then insist on having the host cook it,” writes a reader named laureltanner. “They don’t like the patties [...]
Note to Noisy Neighbors: Do You Have Any Idea What I Can Hear at Night?
This week’s etiquette question comes from a reader in Florida named RSFan999, who lives year-round in a condo complex with paper-thin walls. Guess what she hears at night? “When the married couple whose master [...]
Are You Ignoring My Facebook Friend Request?
This week’s etiquette dilemma: “It has been several months since I have made a friend request or two on Facebook that have yet to be answered,” writes a reader named JenniferBeck. “I know them [...]
Can I Say No to a Delicious (But Unhealthy) Gift?
A reader named EmilyMae writes: “Recently I have cut sugar out of my diet at my doctor’s request. How should I respond when my neighbors thank me for dog-sitting with a plate of cookies?” [...]
Sorry, But I Don’t Want My Kids Playing With Yours
This week’s reader dilemma: “How do you politely communicate that you are not interested in play dates with a persistent neighbor with unruly kids?” asks piper002. “Our children are very different in both temperament [...]
My Best Friend and Her Husband…And Her Lover
This week’s etiquette dilemma comes from a reader, simplegirl504, who wrote: “My best friend is having an affair. She says it’s the love of her life (old college flame), but won’t leave her husband [...]
Shhhh! Can You Lower Your Voice?
This week’s etiquette question comes from a reader named julieannag, who is tired of hearing other people’s loud conversations on the commuter bus. “I commute to and from work daily on an hour long [...]
A Reader Asks: If Mother-in-Law Chain Smokes, Will Exposure Harm My Baby?
“My mother-in-law is a chain smoker. My husband and I have always put up with it. But now we have a baby.” This week’s etiquette question comes from Quidditchgirl, who writes: “My in-laws live [...]
