Questions tagged [etiquette]
Etiquette is a set of rules or customs that control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations.
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What are the etiquette rules for bringing someone with me to a high school reunion?
I got invited to a 10-year high school being hosted at a local restaurant. I'd like to go, but I haven't seen most of my classmates in years. I have some social awkwardness and didn't really form my ...
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How do I tell my sister that her daughters should not use their smart phones in church?
I am part of a family in which I and my siblings were all raised Christian and our parents took us to church every week. Our parents expected us to behave in church and to try our best to listen ...
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Tipping etiquette for combined self-service buffet & table service
We were on holiday in Brazil recently (we're Irish), and we went for a dinner / show. The dinner was a self-service buffet, however when sitting down and during the show, waiters did come around to ...
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Etiquette for wearing ties at a "Black Tie" event
I've been invited to a wedding (in Scotland, UK). It's described as a "Black-tie" event and the groom has asked guests to wear a dinner jacket (tuxedo), but it's not an absolute requirement. ...
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How to deal with a younger lady who I may have inadvertently offended?
I seem to be having some interpersonal problems with a female co-worker in my workplace. To put it into context, I'm a middle-aged male and she is a fair bit younger (early 20s).
I first met her at a ...
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Is it acceptable to save seats for friends/relatives in waiting areas?
I've come across this rude habit of some people in the waiting areas at airports or hospitals wherein they place something (like a handbag or a water bottle) on a vacant seat next to them, and claim ...
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Is it appropriate for foreigners to thank US veterans for their service?
I am a foreigner living in the USA. I sometimes come across veterans and I know that in the local culture it is custom to respectfully acknowledge their service. Nothing too fancy:
Person A: "... ...
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How can I ask my neighbours to refrain from using EV spaces?
My wife and I own a little electric vehicle, EV, and live in an area with many public EV charging points. Most of the time, our EV is fantastic; we plug it in when we get home, and then in the morning ...
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What is the proper title for addressing a godparent?
A friend asked me to be a godparent for his first child. Due to Covid, I really haven't seen my godson since his first birthday so he really doesn't know me. I am sending a birthday gift with a card....
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Inviting a colleague to hang out without giving the impression I'm interested in something more than friendship
I have one collaborator from another country for whom I have great admiration. In fact I'm learning a lot with her and I think she is amazing both professionally and as a person, and I would like to ...
user35094
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How to shake hands with someone having a prosthetic right arm/hand?
Airbus did a few years ago a few videos about inclusion of disabled people, including this one: https://youtu.be/RJuE_Ywl64o
It features a disabled woman with a prosthetic right arm (or hand, it is ...
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Why is it considered bad form to break up with someone over written text?
I am autistic and, when I was a teenager (10 years ago), I had always heard that it was "rude" to break up with someone over text. However, I never understood why.
What's wrong with ...
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If I know my interlocutor native language, it is approprieate to respond them using it? [closed]
I got an email in English from a staff member, and it turns out that he speaks the same native language as me (which is not English).
Would it be rude/appropriate to respond to the email in our native ...
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How can I raise my opinion to a biased person without looking too offensive?
Personally, I am a 25 year old male who has just graduated with a Computer Science degree and currently a Software Engineer by profession.
Recently, my dad was very interested in numerology after ...
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How to thank someone for her kindness in welcoming you publically?
I am in a formal setting whereby my superior pleasantly welcomed me in an email (tricky to say it is non-formal, it is formal but in a nice way) among other members. I want to reply to her via email, ...
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How do I tactfully ask an ex-supervisor to approve a reference letter that I have drafted without changing anything in the main body?
I am currently in the process of my immigration application, and I need employment reference letters from all my previous employers.
I worked at a job for 20 months. It's been 5 years since I left. I ...
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What is the maximum interaction where saying goodbye is unnecessary in the US?
Often when you meet people on the street you may opt to say "Hi" and then be on your way. To my understanding this is not considered a rude behavior. It is also common to greet someone have ...
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How to start the interaction in one online meeting in a friendly manner?
I have always had some issues to start interactions. Things usually go smoother when the other person starts talking. But there are times I need to start the interaction and I often end up doing it in ...
user32212
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Does the food or drink item brought to a potluck need to be large enough to serve everyone?
Tomorrow I'll be going to a potluck that will be attended by around 20 people. I'm not good at cooking, so I'm planning on bringing something from a bakery.
What is the etiquette with regards to the ...
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How to give a gift that was declined on the basis of welfare of the gifting party without being rude?
I am attending the wedding of a very close family member soon (45 days).
This family member and their fiancé need new phones, their current one doesn't seem to last 30 minutes of use with a full ...
user20
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I have a co-worker from India, who has lost several family members to covid. How is it most appropriate to express condoleances?
I am an academic in a US university. My co-worker is a more junior academic who grew up in India and has family in New Delhi. Today I learned that he has lost several family members (uncles, aunts, ...
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What is the proper etiquette for when someone you're not very close with is dealing with a terminally ill family member?
I'm currently enrolled in graduate school. I've been having a lot of trouble getting in touch with my advisor recently. He finally responded with apologies that he has been dealing with a terminally ...
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How many "bise" (kisses) should I give?
Context
Let's assume we are in a COVID-free environment.
In France, depending on where you are, we give different amounts of "bises" (kisses on the cheek) in greeting.
For example, we give ...
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What's the etiquette for addressing a friend's partner or family in a greeting card?
I'm sending holiday greeting cards for the first time to friends, among whom some live with their partners (unmarried). I am not friends with their partners but consider myself on good terms with them,...
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What is the proper etiquette with regards to reciprocating Thanksgiving dinner invitations?
A little bit of background: I am an international graduate student at a university in the US. A domestic friend invited me to his apartment to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and we had a great time on ...
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Is it customary in the US not to say "bye" after a phone call? [closed]
I am French and we end our phone conversations with the equivalent of a "bye".
I noticed however that in most of the US movies or TV series (especially the police/action ones), the callers ...
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Best way to respond to continue possible friendship
I am taking an online course. Two days ago, the instructor organized a meeting of all the students. I liked one of them – he is senior to me, and seems like a nice sort of person, friendly-like – and ...
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How to address a Chinese co-worker?
Question similar to How to address a Korean co-worker?
When interacting in direct chat messages in English with co-workers (software developers like me) from Chinese offices ; is it rude to address ...
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How to address a Korean co-worker?
My current employer is a global software company with offices in several continents. The company tries to maintain a culture of conviviality.
Our main communication medium is text chat in English ; ...
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How to respond to a particular aspect of Indian culture?
In my line of work, I spend lots of time meeting people from various companies. Often, especially when the companies are tech companies, my counterpart will be Indian. One useful skill in working with ...
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Buying an expensive item from an acquaintance -- making an offer
I want to buy an item from an acquaintance---we work in the same field roughly and have hung out a few times, I might refer to them as a friend loosely. The list price at a local shop is $1,050 pre-...
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Resolve frequent conflicts between a group of friends due to poor etiquette
My friends and I are in our mid twenties and have a small friendship group of around 6-7 of us. We have been friends since school, so for around 15 years.
More and more I have noticed scenarios where ...
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I accidentally mentioned my hourly salary to my hairdresser, is that bad? [closed]
During small talk with my hairdresser I was talking about an upcoming job interview (which was the reason I went to the hairdresser), and then I accidentally mentioned what I was going to earn per ...
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Who is expected to pay for birthday trip accommodations? [closed]
So I asked my friends to go to Vegas for my birthday, am I expected to pay for all of their rooms? It would be around 3 rooms I would have to pay for. I am the one planning it and I did invite them.
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How to be persistent but not annoying when dealing with property manager
I'm trying to get my property manager to move me (total household = me + minor child) from a 1 bedroom unit to a 2 bedroom unit. I actually thought this would be a simple request but it's not ...
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Is "I'm sorry" appropriate when offering condolence?
I think it's conventional to say "I'm sorry" when offering condolence -- for example, "I'm sorry to hear your mum died", or, "I was sorry to hear your mum died".
Although it may be conventional I ...
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Figuring out interesting questions in friendly or romantic conversations
How can I figure out which questions are interesting and will be pleasant for the person to whom they are addressed to answer?
I am a person who has an extreme problem conveying what he wants to ...
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Putting arm on a married woman's waist during photo [closed]
How appropriate is it as a single guy to put his arm on a married woman's waist during a photo? Does this count as a friendly gesture or inappropriate behavior?
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Confronting an Inconsiderate Co-Worker
A little background:
I am very conflict averse. I go out of my way to be friendly and accommodating. Recently I was promoted at work, but I am in a different group. I used to be in a technical ...
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How can I ask for recommendations from an acquaintance?
I used to live in city X, and I have an acquaintance Y back then that I have not contacted since I left X. I recently moved back to X (after 6 years) and have some problems at home where I will need ...
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How to quickly end a date?
I use a dating app to go on dates with people I have never seen in person. Usually we spend 1-2 hours to go for some coffee etc.
I've had dates turn up that e.g. don't look like their picture/...
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For how long after New Year's Day is it appropriate to wish people all the best for the new year?
Today is my first day back at the office after a two-week vacation, and so there's a lot of handshakes and well-wishing ('happy new year', 'best wishes') going on.
Which raised a fun discussion ...
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Etiquette for Cancelling Abroad Trip
A friend and I were looking at flights to Japan from our home city for a week or so back leading up to this year's Black Friday. Typically flights range from $1000-$1600 round trip, however during ...
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Is it appropriate to ask for the text of a eulogy?
At a funeral there is usually a eulogy by family or close friend of the deceased. This usually covers interesting details of their lives. Unfortunately, just hearing it once means you'll miss things. ...
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How to convey interest after I've declined multiple invitations?
My neighbor who lives across the hall from me in my apartment building is clearly trying to extend an olive branch of friendship. We met at a community gathering for residents a little over a month ...
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How to ask people not to push in front of me at concerts?
I have some experience with concerts (mostly heavy-metal ones, but pretty sure it's the same for any genre).
And every time some people try get to the front rows either by just walking as they have a ...
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Pointing the index fingers to one another as a way to excuse oneself: is this a common gesture?
I grew up in Italy, and there is a gesture I use that I'm wondering whether is strictly Italian or is used/understood elsewhere.
It means either of:
"I know this may bother you, but I'd really ...
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Etiquette about crossing a door when someone also wants to cross from the opposite side?
Let's take the following situation:
I'm on the outside and want to go inside
Someone is inside and want to go outside
The door is open (one of us is holding it)
There isn't enough room for both of ...
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What is the etiquette around greetings in online communication in India?
Background
I work with people from a rather diverse set of cultures. We are spread across several cities, so most of our communication takes place on Slack.
I have several co-workers who are from ...
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Who pays for the date?
I am from northern Europe, but currently live in China. I was going to be a speaker at this social event at a cafe. I asked a Taiwanese woman if she would like to join me to the event (just me and her)...
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