A pet peeve of mine. As an example: I’m a college football season ticket holder. In the past few years, at the big end of season rivalry game, one of the frats sells t-shirts emblazoned in big letters “FUCK (rival’s name)”.
Jeez louise, there are kids at this game. Makes me embarassed of my alma mater.
At my uncle’s garden wedding, the invitation said Neat Casual. One dolt decided that RIPPED denim long shorts (the kind that are big enough to fit another pair of man legs in there) that came down almost to his ankles met the dress code. I would have chucked his sorry ass out. :wally
There is one exception: if your husband doesn’t remember Bill’s name at that moment. In that case, however, he should still make introductions again, even if they’re one-sided. Like so:
HUBBY: {speaking to BILL} And I’m sure you’ve heard me mention my wife, WIFEY.
WIFEY: {extends her hand} Hi, I’m WIFEY, pleased to meet you.
BILL: {extends hand and shakes with wife} Yes, I’m BILL, we met before at the PARTY.
HUBBY AND WIFEY: {in their heads} Ahhhhhh, BILL! That’s his name!
It takes extreme grace to realize when this delicate dance is being done about your name, and to make sure you take the bait.
I agree with this…to a point. If we are at an “adult” resturant thats fine. If I take my Hellspawn out to Friendly’s for ice cream, keep your dirty looks to yourself. In fact if someone has their children any where that is made for children and they act like children don’t complain. There are plenty of adult places you can go if you don’t want to be bothered by children. I will not stay locked in my house for 18 years because you don’t want to be bothered. I will be greatly embarrassed and take corrective action if my little demons act up in inappropriate places.
My wife recently took the 4 and 2-year-olds to see Shrek2. Noon matinee on a Monday. The only other people in the theater complained to the management that the baby was making too much noise. If you go to a freaking* cartoon * matinee you have to expect children making noise. I would never take them to an evening movie of any type for that reason. You’re an adult, go to the 8pm showing and I’ll go during the day.
Well, this was poor taste, no doubt, but I think your uncle’s “Neat Casual” designation left him open to a multitude of sins.
I learned this while doing reading for the blind.
If a blind person is at a restaurant with a sighted person, ** DO NOT** ask the sighted person what their blind companion’s order is. You ask them! If they haven’t been able to read the menu, they’ve still probably discussed it with the sighted person, and are perfectly capable of answering for themselves. If they ask questions about the meals available, answer them.
Those I have read for said the “asking the sighted person” thing happens all the time. Oh, and if the blind person has a dog with them, don’t touch the dog, and usually, don’t even comment on it. The dog is working, and supposed to be “invisible”. It’s probably better behaved than many children too.
I can’t see why good manners can be considered Victorian or archaic. Yes, I do stand when a female comes to the table and open doors for them.
I will not light a females cigarette, but that is to do with my loathing of smoking.
One habit I do have, and I wish a few more people would follow. If my mobile (cell) phone rings when I am on a bus I will not answer it- I will not bore others with my conversations with whoever . I have never known a phone call so important that it can’t wait.
I thought the man walking on the street side was a Latin American thing. I’ve run across it a few times in Latin America but never anywhere else. I got used to it and tried to train an American boyfriend to follow it, but apparently it’s a hard habit to pick up.
I’ve heard various explanations for the rule. One is that if the woman is walking on the street side it symbolizes that she is a woman of the street, i.e., a prostitute. I’m not buying that one. Another is that people used to throw the contents of their chamberpots and other refuse from their windows, so the person walking closest to the buildings was most likely to get hit with it. Also, not plausible. The most plausible explanation is that the person walking on the street side is most likely to be splattered with mud.
I also am from the Bay Area and do not consider this common practice. After spending some time living in Latin America and Europe I began to do it when I returned home. IMO, our American customs are cold and awkward - you shake hand upon first meeting, and after that we hardly awknowledge hellos and good-byes, unless it’s a close enough friend to hug. It does seem to be common practice in New York City. You know, it’s an air kiss, no where near the kind of kisses you give a lover, and hardly more intimate than shaking hands.