Etiquette is a set of rules or customs that control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations.
11
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2answers
963 views
How can I prevent people from touching my laptop screen with their finger?
Because of my work, I often bring my laptop with me to show stuff to other people. The problem is that a lot of people end up touching my screen to point to things on it. One developer I worked with ...
0
votes
0answers
53 views
Communication within a band and congregation [closed]
How can I motivate people to get enthusiastic about a new system or approach to the music and session without, offending them or myself?
0
votes
0answers
116 views
Polite way to say “Don't bother me right now!” [closed]
At my job I perform some operations that need my total focus, that must be completed in one unbroken process without interruption, and I'm frequently approached by a co-worker with a request. I'm ...
23
votes
5answers
9k views
Etiquette when riding a taxi in Germany?
So I just recently rode a taxi again in Germany and I was wondering about the proper etiquette if there is one. I rode a total of like 3 taxi in my life and I never was sure on how to behave (I always ...
0
votes
1answer
171 views
Giving a lot of money to someone as a donation [closed]
Is it bad etiquette to give someone about $2000 dollars just as a donation to help someone after one lost his or her job or crashed his or her car?
Maybe the receiver thinks that you think they can't ...
1
vote
2answers
335 views
Dining etiquette [closed]
When someone else is giving me a treat, I’d prefer to keep quiet if the food is not delectable, as complaining might sour the atmosphere, or hurt his or her feelings.
So how should one respond if ...
1
vote
3answers
215 views
Asking dad to be more flexibile with his timing or to communicate it better [closed]
I find a lot of stress takes place regarding the logistics behind meeting with my dad. A typical example just happened:
I was just stepping out the door and I check my phone and see a message from my ...
116
votes
16answers
23k views
Is it acceptable to violate table manners in public due to my disability?
I have a tremor, which varies in intensity. I recently ordered a sandwich at a restaurant, which was pretty easy to eat, but I gave up trying to eat the salad, because I was unable to do so with a ...
90
votes
11answers
28k views
Complimenting a female co-worker without coming across as flirting?
I am asking this question for a friend. My friend is straight, male, and married to a woman and loyal to his wife. He is a somewhat socially awkward person.
He works in an office of software ...
21
votes
2answers
5k views
Offering free food to random people as a kind gesture, without being condescending or strange
I recently watched a YouTube video of a person who was handing out free food to random people - donuts, iced coffees, etc. - and so, inspired by this, I bought an ice cream bar last night for a ...
29
votes
13answers
12k views
Is adding “let me know if anything is unclear” to an e-mail really necessary or is it redundant?
(Note that I originally asked this question on the English Language Stack Exchange and was told that it belonged here (Interpersonal Stack Exchange), so I removed it from the EL SE and manually moved ...
2
votes
1answer
210 views
How do I tactfully ask for my hotel room to be cleaned more thoroughly? [closed]
I am doing some temporary work for a few months and the company is paying for my housing in a nearby hotel. The room comes with typical housekeeping service to clean the sheets, bathroom, etc. I have ...
3
votes
3answers
725 views
How do I respond to someone saying “thanks for waiting” after a long wait I wasn't okay with? [closed]
Recently, I was in a line at the supermarket where the person ahead of me took nearly 10 minutes to resolve a payment issue with their order (usually, payment takes 30 seconds to a minute). When that ...
3
votes
0answers
354 views
What is the etiquette about how/when to Stop Conversation with other matches when dating online? [closed]
I don't believe this question or an answer is specific to OKCupid, but that's the particular platform I have been using in case there are any answers/advice that is specific to that site.
In OKCupid ...
0
votes
1answer
359 views
On a date, if I give a woman flowers, what does she do with them? [closed]
On a date, I'd like to give a woman flowers as a little present. What's the best thing for her to do with them? I mean, if I imagine to be a woman getting flowers, I'd feel real bad throwing them away ...
7
votes
2answers
314 views
What are some good strategies for interrupting coworkers with more important information?
I work in a facility with a large manufacturing plant and a large number of engineers, lab techs, and manufacturing personnel. Because of the nature of the equipment we produce and the documentation ...
1
vote
4answers
650 views
How to keep passengers off the phone
I am often the driver for friends and family whenever we travel, whether short or long distances. This is mostly due to the fact that I have the best track record, reflexes, judgement, etc. on the ...
-2
votes
1answer
430 views
Why do people cross their arms when I talk? [closed]
About 25% of the time I have a conversation with people, they begin to cross their arms or legs halfway through. I know that arm crossing can be a sign of defensiveness (or they're just cold), but ...
8
votes
0answers
533 views
Duties of a “Plus One” [closed]
A long time platonic friend is going to a wedding in a few weeks and has invited me as her plus one. She is buying the wedding gift and saying it is from both of us. I'll be transporting her to and ...
3
votes
1answer
302 views
How to appreciate someone who is showing interest towards me? [closed]
I like a person on linkedin. He is a information security veteran and very knowledgable and famous person. When I reach out to him, he was very eager and generous towards me. I wish I could say him ...
2
votes
3answers
251 views
Appropriate wait time before re-sending RSVP request? [closed]
My teenage son has sent out an e-vite (online invitation service) for his birthday party at a one of those bowling/laser tag/multi-activity places. He’s extremely excited about the event, but ...
3
votes
1answer
319 views
Grocery store line etiquette [closed]
Consider the following situation at the grocery store, on a normal day (i.e., not including out-of-the-ordinary cases like Black Friday) in a medium to large town (i.e., where almost no one will know ...
9
votes
4answers
774 views
Does the way that someone signs an email change how I should address them?
Imagine you write an email to a professor (or, to avoid academic specifics, councillor) Joseph Doe whom you never met personally before:
Dear Professor (Councillor) Doe,
blah-blah-blah
...
2
votes
2answers
971 views
What's the proper etiquette to be relocated from table at a restaurant?
I was at a restaurant yesterday and one person in the table next to us was so loud that they sounded as if sat right at our own table, an annoying companion you could say.
Regularly, loud people are ...
20
votes
4answers
5k views
Etiquette for a person who has already queued once
I was at the front of a queue of 5 or 6 people waiting for train tickets, at a station in London, England. It was a similar length when I joined, and had taken about 10 minutes to reach the front.
A ...
66
votes
13answers
22k views
How can I decline someone's business card with tact?
I am an engineer in a technical field, but I work regularly with sales, and I am often given business cards by vendors or customers at work. I know that I will never use them, and I almost always ...
4
votes
2answers
721 views
What is the proper etiquette for making ones presence known non-verbally?
Years of dedicated martial arts training has resulted in a condition where my footfalls are nearly silent. This has led to some IPS problems. Specifically:
People often jump when I "appear" in the ...
1
vote
1answer
107 views
Declining helping with a (personal) project [duplicate]
I'm into web development and due to my work situation I had a lot of free time on my hands. I had been helping people with their personal projects on a volunteer basis.
I recently got a full time job ...
0
votes
1answer
127 views
What kind of birthday gift is appropriate for a recent friend? [closed]
A friend of mine has a birthday coming up and I want to give them a gift. Given my history of poor gift giving, I am trying to put more thought into this. However, we've only recently started talking (...
8
votes
3answers
661 views
How to suggest to friend that he should clean up after himself in another's home
In our group of friends, "Mike" always hosts game nights, study sessions, etc. The rest of us never can return the favor since we don't have enough space and privacy. I feel it's the least I can do to ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Responding to inappropriate personal questions at an interview?
I am an American living in Germany and had an interview with a manager of a company yesterday. At one point, the interviewer asked me about why I chose to come to Germany. I explained the reason, and ...
4
votes
3answers
420 views
How to say hello without asking “how are you going?”
I try to say what I mean, and mean what I say.
Sometimes I just want to say "Hi" or "Hello" without asking the person how they are going. I like to ask how they are or how they are going only when I ...
25
votes
5answers
10k views
How do I respond to someone apologizing for coughing/yawning?
Many times I'll be talking to someone and they'll yawn or cough (or something similar), then say "excuse me", or "sorry". I have no idea what type of response to give to this.
If they'd sneezed, ...
2
votes
2answers
632 views
Was it inappropriate for me to wear a qipao as a formal dress? [closed]
I wore a qipao to a holiday party earlier this year. I am an American with Vietnamese parents (They were born in Vietnam, escaped to America during the Vietnam War, and I was born in America) I do not ...
3
votes
2answers
410 views
How do I correct the grammar of another person if they claim to be speaking my language for practice?
I have a friend, let's call him Bob.
I met Bob many years ago back when I was working in another country.
We keep in touch over Facebook, occasionally we can have a small conversation.
Bob wants to ...
39
votes
7answers
9k views
Is there a Russian etiquette on declining offers of food when visiting someone?
I'm 15 years old, living in Israel. Occasionally, I visit senior citizens on their birthdays - bringing balloons and stuff, with a few other people.
These people who we visit are usually older ...
7
votes
2answers
745 views
What is the etiquette for responding to “Don't worry about it” with something you are sorry about
I was meant to buy travel tickets for somebody, but they all got sold out before I could. There were reasons for them not being able to buy the tickets themselves.
I was helping out, they asked me to ...
5
votes
2answers
344 views
How can I reintroduce myself in an email to someone I met a year ago without risking offending them?
About a year ago, I did an informational interview with a friend of a friend. We connected on LinkedIn shortly after, and I did a basic follow-up "thanks for meeting with me" email, but we haven't ...
-1
votes
3answers
462 views
Etiquette question regarding conveying enthusiasm in email communications - used in academic settings
I have a friendly, close relationship with these professors - we are research collaborators and communicate daily. Our communication scope on emails is never personal, it's strictly about research ...
86
votes
7answers
21k views
How can I give out my telephone number to my neighbors without implying anything?
I have recently purchased a new home and have moved into a neighborhood. I would like to introduce myself to my immediate neighbors and offer them my telephone number in case there is an emergency or ...
44
votes
13answers
12k views
What is the current etiquette in the US and UK regarding a man holding doors for female companions?
In my country of origin, Hungary, men should enter pubs and bars before their female companions, as opposed to holding the door for them. This is due to the assumption that pubs and bars can be ...
2
votes
1answer
645 views
What's the best way to talk to/meet a woman when you're an introvert who is nerdy/geeky type person? [closed]
Context:
I am an introvert; I would classify myself as a creative problem solver with a love for art/math/science. Specifically drawing, computer programming, solving mathematical equations etc. My ...
10
votes
6answers
3k views
How to prevent misunderstandings about food with hungry people?
Yesterday, a group of families whom I've known for a while along with mine went out for dinner together. The families are united in their common language and culture, and we often go out together. ...
61
votes
12answers
14k views
How do I treat my friends to something without it being awkward?
There are some things I love doing with my friends that I know they cannot afford to do on a regular basis. In particular, I love going out for a big sushi dinner every once in a while. This type of ...
4
votes
3answers
677 views
How should I tell my band-members I'm out?
I'm a 21-year-old guy from Denmark, who plays in a band.
The band consist of:
Lead vocal (LV) 35
Drummer (D) 42
Bass (B) 48
Rhythm guitar (RG) 54
Lead guitar (me)
Context
RG has been my guitar-...
8
votes
3answers
907 views
How to handle people stressing me by standing too close in a line (and other similar circumstances)?
People standing too close
In the lunch buffet room, I'm putting the food from the container on my plate, then scootch a step to the side, put some potatoes or whatever, then scootch again, etc. Right ...
1
vote
1answer
161 views
Saying 'Yes' while initiating a telephonic or messaging conversation [closed]
Here is a small context.
I am talking to my peers or my other colleagues either on mobile phone or through a messaging system
Me : Hi Ruby
Ruby : Yes
Me : ...
Ruby : ...
Everything seems to be ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Why does a man pay for the first date with a woman? [closed]
So, it still seems to be common etiquette, at least in Greece (and probably in other countries as well) for a man to pay for the first date with a woman.
While some women do not accept their bill to ...
3
votes
3answers
318 views
Reminding lecturer to reply to previous email I sent
I sent an email to my lecturer asking for clarification about something however it has been a few days and he has not replied. Sometimes he replies to emails sometimes he does not. I need a reply fast ...
15
votes
8answers
976 views
How do you communicate efficiently with someone who is stuttering?
I recently got a project at work where I need to regularly talk to a person who is suffering from very bad stuttering. He is very competent and professional at his job, but talking with him is a bit ...
