Questions tagged [etiquette]
Etiquette is a set of rules or customs that control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations.
4
votes
1answer
206 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
998 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
318 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
802 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
572 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
579 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
418 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
158 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
536 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
612 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
773 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
492 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 ...
6
votes
5answers
445 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
710 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 ...
12
votes
4answers
846 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
609 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
607 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
218 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
688 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 ...
8
votes
4answers
782 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
743 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
737 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
594 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
42 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
513 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
483 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
470 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
528 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
996 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
526 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
180 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
267 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
358 views
Is it better to ask parents of a kid if they are OK with a gift I buy for their child?
I don't come from a western culture and I am not sure what the norms of western culture are.
In western countries, when you plan on buying a gift for a kid who is not yours, do you consult with ...
-4
votes
1answer
352 views
Do people have a right not to be looked at? [closed]
I've got into some trouble in the past for inadvertently staring at people in public. I certainly don't intend to annoy the people I'm looking at and usually don't even realize that I'm staring until ...
0
votes
3answers
571 views
Rude behavior in canteen
In our work place there are around 1100 employees. Majority of them collectively gather in factory canteen during break and take their lunch.This canteen consists of a big hall with hundreds of ...
3
votes
1answer
439 views
Refusing food from a neighbour?
I have a very good relationship with my neighbour. She sent us dishes but none of my family member likes her dishes including me. I do not wanna say to her that "please do not send us dishes" but I ...
1
vote
5answers
900 views
How do I politely ask the staff at my gym how long it will be before I can use the shower?
I'm male, and I often work out at around the time where the staff at my gym is cleaning the showers. They aren't doing it at a specific time, so I can't plan my way out of it.
When it's female staff ...
2
votes
1answer
457 views
How to politely avoid a hand-shake with somebody who is infected by a flu virus?
In our daily life people often meet and greet with different styles and traditions, but mostly we do it by shaking our hands and it is quite normal around the globe.
But if a person who is infected ...
2
votes
4answers
215 views
What's the etiquette for greeting people in a formal letter?
I need to send a case to the French Ministry of Justice for personal issues, so this is pretty much an official and important mail. I don't know who will read this mail so I can't begin the letter ...
4
votes
4answers
714 views
How many time should you try to call someone if the other person is not answering? [closed]
Last Monday, I wanted to ask a question to my cousin and decided to phone her. I called her once and she didn't answer so I decided to try a second time right after my first attempt. When she finally ...
23
votes
4answers
1k views
Etiquette at communion for someone who is not religious
I'm an agnostic young adult living in America
A few years ago my family and I were at a Lutheran church because my cousin was becoming a pastor. Throughout the whole ceremony I did what I saw others ...
8
votes
1answer
760 views
How can I talk to my grandfather about his public display of affections with a woman in my presence?
Our family takes turns watching over my grandpa since he's 92 and cannot live independently without assistance.
I was at my grandpa's house over lunch and "Alice" stops by which was unusual- she is ...
19
votes
4answers
3k views
Friendly Cuddling, in a non-romantic way
Might be a weird questions, but I'm really confused. A good female friend of mine (I'm male) recently suggested we should cuddle, after we talked about how both of us feel rather lonely at the moment. ...
7
votes
5answers
979 views
When should one do “la bise” in France?
As a French woman with ASD, I often find myself struggling to know if I should do "la bise" (cheek-kiss) in greeting.
In general, I don't like to do "la bise" for various reasons--one of them being ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
I have suggested my friend's toddler has down syndrome. How can I explain myself or apologies to her?
Background
We were at a party for a mutual friend and as we were standing in a circle, talking to each other, she started talking about her kids' field trip. I was semi listening, semi listening to ...
0
votes
1answer
249 views
Replying to people in social media without sounding insulting [closed]
Background
I am watching professional wrestling. In the show I am watching, the commentary team is doing a good job, but lacking in one very important area. This particular area is not something that ...
31
votes
3answers
6k views
Etiquette regarding borrowing of power tools
Based on television shows, it seems borrowing tools from neighbors is a potential minefield. I need to power wash my front and back porches and the siding of my house. My neighbor has a power washer ...
8
votes
3answers
706 views
How do I greet someone when bowing is a common greeting among the people without being disrespectful?
Muslims are only allowed to bow and prostrate to God because we consider such things acts of worship, and Islam is a very monotheistic religion.
This is a problem in Japan, where bowing is considered ...
