DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had a textual content message argument with my finest pal’s husband. None of our statements was offensive.
I thanked him kindly for making an attempt to assist discover a job for my associate, however stated that I most well-liked to deal with the state of affairs myself. I discussed that working as a caregiver to psychiatric sufferers was not in alignment with my associate’s skilled expertise, and that I had issues he might be probably injured on the job.
My pal’s husband then implied that my associate was unmotivated.
My pal stated that her husband may be very mad at me. She typically invitations me to see her new house; nonetheless, I don’t need to inconvenience both of them.
What ought to I say to my pal, as I genuinely don’t need to annoy her husband?
GENTLE READER: Too late. You already aggravated him together with your suggestion that psychiatric sufferers had been going to injure your associate, and he already aggravated you by calling your associate unmotivated.
Assuming that you just need to keep the friendship, what it’s worthwhile to keep away from shouldn’t be your pal’s husband, however speaking with him solely by way of textual content. Texting is already susceptible to misunderstandings as a result of it strips out mandatory context. That is exacerbated when the folks on both finish have no idea each other properly.
If you don’t want to go to your pal’s house, invite her to yours for some precise social interplay.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: The chance to work remotely has provided many people the liberty to have interaction in work-related actions not solely at house, but additionally in public locations equivalent to libraries and cafes — principally wherever that gives Wi-Fi and offers tables and chairs for patrons.
That is the case at a espresso store the place I typically go to take pleasure in a espresso and a pastry. They serve espresso in paper cups and bag all meals gadgets to go, but when there may be an open seat, one can keep and eat the gadgets within the store.
Sadly, that is not often attainable as a result of the entire tables for 2 are occupied by single clients and their laptops. Often, they haven’t any meals or beverage beside them (presumably having consumed it earlier), however they nonetheless retain their spot for one to 3 hours. I due to this fact haven’t any alternative however to contemplate my gadgets takeout.
What’s the etiquette for working with a laptop computer in a espresso store? And what’s an affordable time-frame for doing so?
GENTLE READER: It is a industrial transaction, however even industrial transactions might be gracious — if everybody is aware of the foundations and abides by them.
Sadly, nobody does — not solely as a result of tenting out within the espresso store is a comparatively new phenomenon, so the foundations are nonetheless evolving, but additionally as a result of everybody has a powerful opinion and is barely too completely happy to share it. These opinions are normally punctuated by scolding those that don’t instantly comply.
An inexpensive guideline is that because the institution is promoting refreshments, not workplace house, those that want to stay ought to replenish their purchases at kind of common intervals.
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her e-mail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or by postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
