Questions tagged [etiquette]
Etiquette is a set of rules or customs that control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations.
206
questions
22
votes
1answer
3k views
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. ...
3
votes
2answers
568 views
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
767 views
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 ...
18
votes
12answers
5k views
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
423 views
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
286 views
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
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)...
5
votes
1answer
312 views
Is it acceptable to ask about visitation or memorial service for a funeral?
A family friend's wife died and they were very poor. I'm planning to call him soon, but I'm still hesitant about asking for visitation or memorial service.
The only reason I think it could be rude/...
26
votes
4answers
5k views
How many photos should I take If I'm given a camera to take a picture?
I live in a fairly touristic place and get asked to take pictures of strangers a lot. When I do this, I get a little bit self-conscious thinking if they are saying to themselves "this dude is taking ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
How do express my condolences, when I couldn't show up at the funeral?
Two days ago, one of my old relatives passed away. His family lives 900km away and due to my job, I couldn't show up at funeral. Where I live it's important to show up.
I've thought of calling his ...
1
vote
1answer
422 views
How to greet Teachers and Staffs?
I am in the final year of my Engineering degree but still find greeting my teachers difficult.
It happens whenever I am on my way to college, when I have to walk from the Hostel to Campus, which ...
1
vote
0answers
183 views
How to approach someone one likes and how to get to know them well? [closed]
How to approach; also how does the way that the approach in itself is organised differ depending on the location the person was met?
As for approach I mean something between these lines
Speak to (...
39
votes
6answers
16k views
What is Soda Fountain Etiquette?
The other day I was walking with my cup to the Soda Fountain1 at a restaurant. Someone was already using the fountain, but the drink they were getting was on the far right side, while what I wanted ...
2
votes
0answers
198 views
Telling my neighbors to not blow his weedy lawn clippings onto my newly mowed lawn [closed]
I have new neighbors who are apparently not well versed in mowing their lawn, or neighborly manners.
When they first moved in, they did not have a working mower, only a very old push mower. After ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views
How to inform my family of my child's new gender identity?
As an extension to this question, my daughter was very relieved when I offered to talk to my family for her. My husband thought of having a brunch with our kids not in attendance. I thought of doing ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Etiquette when someone’s birthday is on the same day as the funeral of one of their loved ones
Bob’s grandmother passed away last week. Her funeral is today. It is also Bob’s birthday today. I am attending the funeral. Obviously, I offer him condolences, but do I wish him a happy birthday too? ...
7
votes
1answer
566 views
How can I greet people when I encounter someone searching for bottles in trash cans?
Often, when I bring out trash, I see homeless people (maybe not all of them are homeless, I'm not sure) searching for plastic bottles and other things in trash cans. Usually I greet neighbors and ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Happy Juneteenth?
I recently learned about Juneteenth. For anyone not familiar:
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas ...
-2
votes
1answer
448 views
Why is it considered rude to burp in public? [closed]
Why is it considered rude to burp in public? It's largely involuntary and better for one's health than holding all that gas in.
14
votes
2answers
4k views
How to decline a wedding invitation from a friend I haven't seen in years?
Three years back somebody of my group of friends got a girlfriend. Ever since he got together with her, me and the other friends of the same group did not hear from him again, despite our efforts to ...
4
votes
1answer
972 views
How do I socialise with a guy in the gym and in my hostel that I want to become friends with?
I am a 20 year old male living in India. Most probably, I am bi, but I am not out yet. My problem is a mixture of shyness, attraction, and confusion.
So I live in a college in a hostel (hall) of 400 ...
3
votes
3answers
625 views
What is the proper workplace etiquette for saying goodbye to a higher ranking coworker that you almost never interact with?
One of my colleagues is quitting his job and our supervisor has invited us to his adieu at a nearby restaurant. I cannot go there but would like to be polite enough to say goodbye to him.
We were ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
My neighbour threatened to kill my cat. How to apologize and make sure he doesn't hurt my pets?
My old cat goes into the yard with me while I water (I don't leave him outside otherwise). Apparently he has managed to scale a 6ft fence and go into the neighbours yard, because I had a fairly ...
3
votes
4answers
606 views
Etiquette regarding money participation when a coworker leaves?
I live in France. One of my coworkers is leaving soon and some other coworkers decided to collect money for him (in order to buy this coworker a gift).
I was wondering, is there any formal etiquette ...
2
votes
2answers
468 views
How to deal with “why not” as a response to the a why question? [closed]
I work with people who when asked "why are you doing it that way" or "why [any question]?" their response is always "why not"?
My feeling is always that this a frivolous response and indicates a poor ...
1
vote
1answer
172 views
How to ask a 3rd party to tell someone to contact me?
I am looking for information on my estranged father of 20 years.
I found the sister of his old best friend on Facebook. Her name is Lily. Lily told me her brother George lived with my father for many ...
8
votes
1answer
584 views
Asking friend to wait before ordering meal
A close group of girl friends and I enjoy getting together for lunch and dinners a few times a month. There are four of us, and every time we sit down and the server introduces themself to ask for our ...
9
votes
1answer
687 views
How to try to find out who stole a valuable item in a social situation?
I was recently at a friend's birthday party and at one point in the event he told everyone that an electronic gadget was missing and that no one would leave until he found it.
It was an embarrassing ...
8
votes
4answers
933 views
Proper etiquette for sending food back to the kitchen?
When eating out, a lot can go wrong:
Sometimes you order food and there's this thing you really don't like, and you order a dish without it and it's still there.
Or that thing you really don't like ...
4
votes
1answer
521 views
Politely declining a request to use my railway card to get a ticket when the person has to stand in the queue
Background:
I'm from India. In our railways, we have multiple ways of booking tickets, one of them being the regular way (stand in the queue) and the other, a card which lets you get your ticket ...
7
votes
5answers
905 views
How to introduce someone to a recruiter that I've worked with before?
When I was looking for a new job around 8 months ago I worked with an agency recruiter - the type that shops your resume around, not an in-house recruiter - to get some interviews. Working with them ...
6
votes
2answers
740 views
What is the etiquette for responding to someone thanking me for doing my job?
My manager has the habit of thanking me after every one-on-one meeting we have. Here is how those meetings goes:
I present my work to my manager
My manager gives me feedback and helps me improve ...
11
votes
4answers
890 views
How to make a proper, harmless April Fools' joke?
From Wikipedia:
April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day (sometimes called All Fools' Day) is an annual celebration commemorated on April 1 by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. The jokes ...
5
votes
2answers
654 views
How to tell beginner pickleball player they shouldn't play?
Often a lower level pickleball player will come to a day set aside for advanced players. (Pickleball has 4 people on a court &usually played at community centers.) It seems if I am nice to them ...
6
votes
1answer
668 views
What cultural hints to be aware of when Jewish friends are staying at our place?
Note: I considered asking this at Mi Yodeya but it is really about how to deal with people and culture, more than about Judaism as a religion.
We will have Jewish friends (from the US) staying at our ...
2
votes
1answer
227 views
What is the etiquette for leaving after a stay with an unexpected host? [closed]
Say you go with a few friends on a night out, downtown fairly far from where you live. Afterwards, rather than dealing with how to get home, a friend of a friend offers the couch in their shared ...
1
vote
3answers
870 views
Sit opposite or along-side on a 4-seater table on a date? [closed]
Sometimes I'll be seated at a 4 person table when I visit a restaurant with one other person. When on a first romantic date with someone, what is the etiquette as to whether I should sit beside them ...
9
votes
4answers
991 views
What is the proper etiquette for sharing menu items at a restaurant?
When I dine at a nice restaurant (not fast food), I frequently "collaborate" with another in my party so that between the two of us we can order two different items from the menu and then we each the ...
3
votes
3answers
771 views
Group Date Split Check
My wife and I would like to ask another couple to a group date at a local restaurant. I'm fine with this, but I'm unsure as to whether a "group date" implies that the check will be split between the ...
4
votes
4answers
763 views
How to decline food without sounding picky
My spouse has food sensitivities to things my parents frequently cook including tomatoes and nuts. These sensitivities don't put them into shock, but do cause sensations of pain and discomfort. In a ...
7
votes
3answers
655 views
How to politely decline an equipment rent request?
Recently, my acquaintance asked me to do him a favor. He wants to borrow my ski googles for a week-end (2 days).
I don't really want to lend them to him, because we are not close at all, furthermore ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Proper etiquette when walking at night to not scare people [duplicate]
When walking around at night, I feel like some other people walking around may be worried. Everyone who knows me knows there is no need for worry, but my stature could make me look threatening to a ...
4
votes
3answers
529 views
How do I tell the waiter that I want each course as soon as it's ready?
Sometimes when eating out, I'll be asked by the wait staff "Do you want to have the starter first or both courses at the same time?".
I actually just want each food item to be brought as soon as it's ...
1
vote
3answers
811 views
How can I discuss beer without sounding like a snob?
I like beer. I like drinking it, discovering it, and I just recently started brewing it. Needless to say, one of my common topics of conversation is beer (of course there are plenty more, and beer is ...
15
votes
2answers
494 views
How can I offer to take care of the dog of a stranger when he/she is not home?
I live in an apartment building and I can often hear a dog whining in the apartment above mine, presumably because the owner is not home. The noise is only a slight bother, I more so feel bad for the ...
3
votes
3answers
626 views
Etiquette about signing card when coworker leaves
Let's assume that you are working somewhere, a co-worker of yours leaves and someone takes the initiative to buy a "best wishes" card for people to sign.
Is there a specific etiquette regarding who ...
7
votes
3answers
5k views
How to reply to unknown texter?
Occasionally I receive a text from an unrecognized number. From the content of the text, the sender probably expects me to recognize their number. How can I reply politely that I have no idea who they ...
8
votes
2answers
612 views
Handshake Etiquette when wearing a Bandaid
How should one behave in situations that require a handshake but are wearing a bandaid on their hand or one of their fingers?
Many people will find it unhygienic or at least unpleasant to touch a ...
3
votes
1answer
185 views
Etiquette of sending a “thank you” message to the host after attending a house party? [closed]
I was recently invited to my friend's house for lunch on a Sunday. We spent the afternoon together as well. I wonder if in western culture it is necessary to call up the next day and say something ...
3
votes
1answer
331 views
What is a polite way to apologize when sneezing frequently at the office? [closed]
I have allergies and I sneeze a lot (at least twice a day and could be even 20 times a day)
Does etiquette demand that I say "excuse me/sorry" after every time I sneeze, given the fact that it ...
