As the worth doesn’t, from an etiquette standpoint, have an effect on their worth — even when the Hope Diamond hung from one of many earrings — Miss Manners can solely conclude that you simply felt your thanks have been insufficient to the emotion being expressed.
She’s going to depart it to your mom to clarify what’s implicitly communicated by accepting costly presents from beaus.
In the event you preserve the earrings anyway, she counsels one other, extra effusive, spherical of thanks subsequent time you put on them — with out mentioning that you simply now know their worth for insurance coverage functions.
Expensive Miss Manners: A younger colleague is anticipating her first youngster. I’m very completely happy for her, though I really feel conflicted about how the celebration has been communicated. She invited colleagues to buy gadgets from her registry by the date of her child bathe — to which there was no invitation. This communication went out through workplace e mail. I ought to add that this colleague’s superior is the pinnacle of human assets.
Is it applicable to ask for contributions for an occasion you weren’t even invited to?
In descending order, Miss Manners just isn’t keen on: mandated socializing on the office, dunning anybody for items, and reward registries. Dunning non-guests had not beforehand made her listing, however we are able to add it.
Having it achieved by somebody at work ready that carries skilled authority over the victims is each impolite and a horrible employment follow — one thing she would advocate bringing to the eye of human assets have been they not, themselves, the offenders.
Expensive Miss Manners: My husband and I just lately ate with household at a fine-dining restaurant. We’ve got been there a number of instances, and the meals is superb. The one drawback I’ve is that I don’t take pleasure in watching the chef put together dishes tableside. The method is intrusive, and I don’t just like the cooking smells and the fireplace so near the desk.
Do you suppose it could be impolite to ask that our meals be ready within the kitchen after which served on the desk?
High-quality eating and dinner-and-a-show are usually reverse extremes in formality. However Miss Manners acknowledges that flambe-ing the dessert may be achieved with out the cook dinner additionally cleansing his fingers in your serviette earlier than tossing it again onto your lap.
In the event you see the server reaching for a match, you’re definitely free to ask that the preparation not be achieved on the desk. As long as you may have the power to disregard the disillusioned look on the waiter’s face.
New Miss Manners columns are posted Monday by Saturday on washingtonpost.com/advice. You’ll be able to ship inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, missmanners.com. It’s also possible to comply with her @RealMissManners.
