Questions tagged [public-issues]
For issues that usually occur in public, in public locations or in the public eye. This can include in cafes, shops, or public transport.
79
questions
41
votes
9
answers
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Appropriate ways to dismiss street vendors?
In the Netherlands, it seems to be quite common lately to hire some students, put them on a busy main street or outside a supermarket, and have them target every passerby by asking 'Can I ask you ...
- 33.9k
9
votes
3
answers
660
views
Intervene in private conversation where a person seems to be manipulated
I am at a café, and I can't help myself from hearing strangers conversation at the next table.
Two well-dressed persons (A and B) are doing their best to make C (older, unshaved and awkwardly ...
- 1,215
14
votes
2
answers
3k
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How should I address a drag queen?
I've been invited to a night out with a few friends and we're going to a drag show! Something that I've never done before but I am excited about.
I believe that there will be other drag queens ...
- 632
9
votes
3
answers
578
views
Public replies to private messages
I am a member of a programmers' society email group.
I recently sent a member a personal, private email regarding their behaviour in the forum. I didn't want to reduce the standing of the person ...
- 279
9
votes
4
answers
2k
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How do I deal with other people's children talking during the movies?
Sometimes I've sat down during the movies and at some point after the movie has started, I have found out that I'm seated near children who won't stop talking during the film. Either they are trying ...
- 1,566
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How can I ask if a person is leaving a parking space?
Yesterday, I was going out with a friend. We were looking for parking in a small city (population ~30,000) in the northeastern United States at around 6:00 PM, and things were fairly crowded. After 20 ...
- 9,005
25
votes
5
answers
8k
views
How to deal with a person that does something wrong like littering or hitting a dog and yells at you when you tell them that they did something wrong?
In my life I come across people that do things that are wrong (and most of the times illegal) like littering, hitting animals, parking on the pavement without leaving an inch for pedestrians to pass.
...
- 501
3
votes
1
answer
313
views
Impact of the internet on people's high self-opinion?
I spend a fair amount of time perusing the internet blogs, twitter, etc. In general it feels that most people are very confident of the correctness of their view of reality, right, and wrong. This ...
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101
votes
6
answers
24k
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How do I deal with other people's screaming children in restaurants?
I want to start off by saying that I'm not referring to "family friendly" restaurants or other venues where a loud, informal atmosphere might be expected.
I'm specifically asking about dining ...
- 6,381
16
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How to react when a complete stranger bursts out crying in front of you?
I was at Victoria coach station in London a few months back and a woman out of nowhere started crying in front of me. She had just got off of the phone and was visibly shaken up, she just kind of sat ...
- 9,779
21
votes
5
answers
5k
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When playing darts, how can I separate real players from random drunks?
I know my dart playing habits are a little odd... I usually hit my local bar alone, on an off night, grab a pint and head straight back to the dartboard in the back corner where I'm least likely to be ...
- 54.9k
-1
votes
2
answers
702
views
“Reserved” seats at crowded food court? (Japan) [duplicate]
I am at a crowded food court, food stalls all have a 20 minutes queue, and not a single seat is available. Eating outside of the food court is not an easy option either.
But then there is this 4 ...
- 1,215
20
votes
10
answers
5k
views
How can I avoid the awkward side step shuffle?
When travelling down a hallway with few people going different ways, I sometimes come across someone who travels down the same side of the hall in a different direction from me. When I go to move ...
- 3,358
33
votes
6
answers
10k
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How to politely ask people to pick up the litter they threw, especially if they don't own up
I live in India. As far as I know, littering is not much of a problem in other countries, but India has always been a place where even the adults teach their children: "Beta, yahin pe phek do, sabhi ...
- 3,198
66
votes
9
answers
15k
views
How to deal with a dangerous, developmentally disabled person I can not avoid?
On my way to work, I cannot help but encountering a developmentally disabled person who harasses me and other women. How can I deal with him?
Background
I have been taking the same train to work ...
- 33.9k
-6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How can I deal with someone obsessed with me on a website? [closed]
Said person follows me around on multiple sections of a site downvoting me or un-upvoting me. Any attempt at asking a question gets targeted
Pleas for support from the moderation get ignored out of ...
- 1,201
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Should "Designated Drivers" be compensated by their friends? [closed]
In Britain in recent years there have been schemes in place to provide free or discounted soft drinks to designated drivers during holiday times. But what about the rest of the year? When a group of ...
- 4,346
36
votes
7
answers
12k
views
How to tell a friend I can see through her swimming suit
I (male) and a friend (female) went swimming in a public outdoor pool together. She met with another female friend there. When she (my friend) sat outside for a couple minutes the sun made her ...
- 377
21
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Is it appropriate for a non-Japanese person to wear a yukata when going to fireworks?
During the summer, many Japanese people go to fireworks or bonodori festivals wearing a "yukata":
source
As a non-Japanese person going to such events, should I refrain from using a yukata? I'm ...
- 1,215
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is it acceptable to call restaurant staff to take our picture?
Recently I was eating with friends in a busy restaurant, and I was surprised to see one friend call a waiter only to take a group picture of us.
Is it acceptable to bother busy restaurant staff for ...
- 1,215
19
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How do you show concern or kindness to a stranger without being intrusive?
I was on the train and a young woman, who was a stranger to me, was sitting in the seat across the aisle from me. She was clearly in distress, and periodically would begin to cry. In such a case how ...
- 4,346
12
votes
4
answers
716
views
Should permission be sought if someone's picture will end up on my online post about a restaurant?
Today more and more people are reviewing their dining experiences on such forums as Facebook and TripAdvisor. Many of these reviews include photos of their food and surroundings. Sometimes in these ...
- 4,346
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
"Reserved" seats at crowded food court? [closed]
I am at a crowded food court, food stalls all have a 20 minutes queue, and not a single seat is available. Eating outside of the food court is not an easy option either.
But then there is this 4 ...
- 1,215
17
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What is the politest way to tell someone their breath smells?
Sometimes people have morning breath or garlic-breath of some sort. If I'm talking to a friend in a public place and I notice this, what should I do? Should I tell them to brush their teeth in the ...
- 1,237
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What is the best way to deal with "reserved" seats at place like a hotel pool?
This question is not about "officially" reserved seating in a restaurant or similar venue, but rather about the practice of some people to put a towel, jacket, or other "personal item," on a seat or ...
- 4,346
49
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Using reserved "disabled parking" with a disability people cannot see
I have a disability that cannot be seen (diffuse scleroderma and a recalcitrant and relapsing polymyositis). I seem to walk around ok, but my muscles are wasted and continue to rebuild and waste, ...
user57
11
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How can I help a shy friend to be less shy?
In a few weeks time I'm spending a week with a close friend, and as part of that we're planning on going to various places (via bus) and going out in public together a lot. However my friend is very ...
- 6,938
0
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How to react to an excuse if it wasn't "Ok"? [duplicate]
I was walking down the street, when a rushing older man just barged into me.
He very politely excused himself for that. So I wanted to accept that excuse, but since he could have prevented it from my ...
- 2,542
18
votes
7
answers
3k
views
How to handle accidentally bumping into a drunk person while walking?
Yesterday when I left my office, I bumped into a drunk person while walking. I didn't notice him, since I was walking while checking my WhatsApp messages.
Then, since he was drunk, he started ...
- 1,644