ArcaMax

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Nearly three decades ago, my husband committed a serious crime. He faced the consequences, served his sentence, and has since built a quiet, responsible life. He has taken full accountability and has worked hard to be a devoted husband and Christian.

Yet even after all these years, whenever his past comes up -- whether ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am still not inured to the rampant trend of women tattooing their hands, feet, arms, backs and even faces. I don't believe at all that I am old-fashioned, but defacing one's body will never be attractive.

What am I to say to a woman -- "What a pretty tattoo. It really enhances your dainty feet"?

GENTLE READER: And what ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I regret to tell you that, in the modern parlance, "You're welcome" isn't polite. It is currently more polite to say "No problem" or "No worries," which imply that whatever was done, the doer was happy to do it.

On the other hand, "You're welcome" is passive-aggressive and means to communicate that the recipient better be ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had a choking incident at the office today when I inhaled a cherry tomato.

One of my direct reports did the Heimlich maneuver and helped loosen it, and then one of the guys from another department joined in to keep the tomato moving. As I recovered, a secretary from down the hall put a cold compress on my neck and forehead....Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was at a store with narrow aisles. I turned down an aisle that had two women with carts. The first woman I encountered completely ignored me, so I gently pushed my cart past. The second woman was older, in her 60s or 70s, and asked if I would like to get through.

Thinking she was being courteous, I smiled and said, "Yes, ...Read more