Greetings, Miss Manners I am a sixty-three-year-old woman who is often informed by people that she looks like a well-known actress of a similar age.
When someone makes the comparison, I’m at a loss for words because I don’t think this actress is very attractive. I’m not sure if I should interpret it as a compliment or just a comment.
I don’t want to offend someone when probably none was intended, but thank you seems to indicate that I’m flattered, which I’m not. Is there any way to respond?
PERSONAL READER: Hmm. Flatly stated, without a question mark or any other inflection other than one that says, “That’s what you just said.”
***
Greetings, Miss Manners I reside in a gated neighborhood. People can enter the code in a gate box to open the gate and get entry.
We press a remote control to open the gate in both of our cars. On multiple occasions, I have been behind someone trying to enter the code and have opened the gate for them using the remote.
Should I wait till the person notices the gate opening and assume they’ve done it, or is it rude to beep my car horn briefly to let them know it’s opening?
PERSONAL READER: How will they learn, though?
Given that it has the ability to make these drivers believe they are magical, the second alternative is undoubtedly more entertaining. However, in the long run, it is more detrimental to your wait time and their learning curve.
Instead, Miss Manners advises you to honk briefly, then gesture and point as if to indicate, “We have the remote.” And you don’t.
***
(Questions can be sent to Miss Manners via email at [email protected], her website at www.missmanners.com, or by mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
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