Questions tagged [united-kingdom]
Questions that have a specific focus on people in the United Kingdom or British culture.
3
votes
2answers
291 views
How do I get my landlord to show some consideration without souring our relationship?
I've been living at my current address for just under 3 months. I'm not renewing the lease for another year after this one is up, so my landlord has just started to take viewings for the property.
So ...
3
votes
2answers
619 views
How to convince girlfriend to not cycle to work? [closed]
My girlfriend and I have recently moved to London and she wants to get a bicycle. Her reason is more along the lines of personal freedom that you get with a bike. It is (very pointedly) not about the ...
6
votes
5answers
810 views
Drunkenly broke a bottle of sauce in someone's kitchen
I live in university accommodation and last night I went to a neighboring flat's kitchen and accidentally broke a bottle of sauce. I didn't realise this at the time. This morning I found a threatening ...
4
votes
2answers
459 views
My sister refuses to help clean. Our shared room is extremely cluttered and our relationship becoming strained. How can I get her to help out?
I share a bedroom with my younger sister, she is currently 15 and I am 20. Recently I have been becoming very stressed out with the clutter in the room. I begun cleaning out my own belongings, ...
-4
votes
1answer
592 views
How do I return inedible foods and not be charged, without offending staff? [closed]
I've had difficulties at only Chinese restaurants in Canada, Hong Kong, US, UK whenever I must return dishes. Their staff vigorously defend the dish, counter and deny my observations, get angry and ...
5
votes
2answers
515 views
How to apologize but also signal that you are also owed an apology?
I usually drive my girlfriend to work on Mondays because the nearest car park is just over a mile away (although when the weather is nice she does enjoy the walk). On this occasion I suggested she ...
5
votes
3answers
535 views
How to politely ask a band member to stop being late/ditching last minute?
So I am in a band consisting of 5 people: 2 guitarists, the drummer, the bassist and a vocalist (might be worth mentioning that the guitarists are brothers that only tend to see each other at practice)...
5
votes
3answers
697 views
How should I apologise for making someone feel bad for something that wasn't their fault? [closed]
I recently met a girl on a night out when we were both quite drunk, and, having liked her I began texting her every now and then. After a few days, we decided to go out for some coffee.
Now, when we ...
3
votes
2answers
626 views
How to encourage people to not make/cancel travel plans based solely on my personal opinion?
I live in a city in the UK that is hosting some competitive sporting events in coming months. From my time at university and beyond, I have made a number of friends and acquaintances across the globe, ...
86
votes
14answers
25k views
How to respond when a Doctor's Receptionist asks the reason for the appointment, after confirming appointment is made?
I have recently come across a situation that made me feel very uncomfortable, especially if it had been more of a personal issue.
I contacted my doctor yesterday with pains in my hand/wrist as I didn'...
13
votes
2answers
640 views
How to deal with friends finding out I self-harm(ed)?
I have a slight situation arising and would like some opinions/thoughts on how to proceed.
Some Backstory
I am male, in my early 20s.
I have self-harmed for a number of years, and am currently a ...
3
votes
3answers
283 views
How to ask estate agents to postpone property visit? [closed]
Background
I am the sole tenant of a rented apartment. Periodically the estate agents managing the property perform visits to check the state of the building.
I work away from home for extended ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
How do I politely turn down a costume party invitation because I am too embarrassed to wear a costume?
I was previously invited to a friend's birthday party and was happy to go. They then announced that it would be a costume party (UK, so "fancy dress party") and I've had to pull out because I've never ...
5
votes
3answers
411 views
Giving notice via the phone [closed]
I am aware that it's more polite to give your employer notice in person, however the office I work in is not the same as my Line Manager. In order to give notice in person I would have to travel some ...
1
vote
2answers
214 views
Request for a telephone interview [closed]
I am currently job hunting and have recently applied for a role in Berlin and I live in the UK, the job advert offered paid relocation.
They have just reached out offering me an interview at their ...
98
votes
10answers
57k views
How to convince my wife that my best friend and I are just friends?
I have a friend (a woman), who I met around 8 months ago. Since then, she has become my best friend and we are extremely close. Understandably, my wife is envious of the relationship and even ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I request something in writing, if the other person resists with “Don't you trust me?”?
I was helping a disabled friend schedule, over the phone, her appointment at a hospital that occasionally botches times and dates. I asked the secretary to confirm by email:
Me: Can you please ...
35
votes
8answers
15k views
How to have dinner without romance involved
I live in a tourist hotspot in japan, in particular a place where people often go when travelling solo. This means that when people I know (even just passing acquaintances) come here, they often ask ...
3
votes
4answers
864 views
Work supervisor expects platitudes in response to his pleasantries, even when I'm miserable
I have been working at my job for over a year now and I have some minor but extremely annoying interpersonal issues with my boss. He's British and I'm Canadian but we are living in Ireland. I'm a ...
3
votes
2answers
805 views
How do I apologize to a successful friend for feeling bad about their success?
Last week I had a stressful week at work and was in a bad mood. On the weekend, a friend, who is quite successful, invited me and some others over for the afternoon to their big house with their wife ...
4
votes
3answers
345 views
How can I resolve a conflict between two people who want to avoid causing any inconvenience, when this is inevitable?
So. I give friend A a lift to a bar. A is on crutches, and can’t stand up for long. So I go in to meet the other friends I’m meeting there and to make sure there’s somewhere for them to sit.
There ...
7
votes
3answers
939 views
How can I diplomatically ask my neighbor to move his/her patio off my garage wall to stop damp
I have just moved in to a new (to me. 6 years old) house and have yet to meet the neighbors. I have since noticed my inside garage wall was damp. Inspecting outside the dampness was caused by the ...
1
vote
1answer
320 views
What is the typical expectation for a gift to a male neighbour on his 60th birthday? [closed]
Apologies if it's a silly question but I am from a different country and therefore culture and so would be keen to learn about British gifts etiquette if there is one.
In particular, a nice middle-...
2
votes
1answer
386 views
What can someone with introversion and/or social anxiety do to maximise the benefits of attending networking events? [closed]
I am profoundly shy, strongly introverted and have some social anxiety.
I find socialising with strangers in social settings to be extremely stressful: socialising in professional settings – such as ...
-4
votes
1answer
674 views
How can I convince a doctor to wash her hands, and not just use hand sanitizer? [closed]
I recently saw a doctor who, after entering the room, only used hand sanitizer. As her gown looked dirty, I stopped her from touching me and asked:
Doctor, is handwashing more effective than hand ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
How do I politely convince my elders that the external-knowledge tools of my generation are respectable?
At work, I asked what makes a picnic a picnic, is it the fact that its outside? I then preceded to google it and found:
A picnic is a meal taken outdoors as part of an excursion.
Which I said to ...
-5
votes
1answer
479 views
How can I ask a guest to order within my budget at a restaurant?
My charity asked me to treat a donor to a lunch. My charity recommends a modest, but respectable restaurant that befits its pre-tax budget of $100/guest for lunch, unless the donor specifies one. My ...
2
votes
2answers
451 views
How can I reassure others that I'm not offended by their teasing?
I have a group of friends who I sit with on the bus. Usually, they have fun talking while I watch and listen, which I'm perfectly fine with. From time to time I join in to their conversation, which ...
9
votes
4answers
796 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
...
15
votes
10answers
14k views
How can I tell someone that I am glad to be leaving them without sounding petty?
Background
After this year, I will be going to a different school than the rest of my friends and so I am writing them cards. There is one person in the group who I especially don't like, and I would ...
48
votes
14answers
16k views
How can I check the time on my smartphone without looking self-important?
I volunteer at a charity, where meetings usually run overtime as staff go off-topic. I had to attend a 30-minute meeting, in a room with no clock. After we discussed the relevant subjects, a donor ...
6
votes
0answers
557 views
How to get out of a dysfunctional living situation with irregular circumstances? [closed]
For some initial clarification, I hope this doesn't sound like a rant, because I'm trying to pitch this question as objectively, and as clearly as I possibly can, whilst hoping that I'm not sounding ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How do I convince my boss to stop spreading hoaxes all the time?
We are less than 10 persons working in a small environment. My boss keeps telling us hoaxes he reads on Social Media all the time.
I have been digesting his nonsense for years but I hate to see ...
0
votes
2answers
767 views
Coping with different spending philosophies in a marriage [closed]
I am British, in my mid-twenties, and in a pretty well paying job. My wife is Chinese, a few years older than me, and while having a moderately well paying job previously is currently is a student. We'...
23
votes
4answers
6k 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 ...
-4
votes
2answers
700 views
How do I tell line jumpers that I was waiting in line? [closed]
I was waiting in line behind some teenagers at a government office that had a counter, when a man walked in man and waited to its right.
As soon as the current customer left the counter, he dashed ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
How to discuss why someone suddenly made plans without me?
I'm male, in my twenties and my definition of friendship is extremely strict. In fact, my friends are what most people would consider their "best friends". As such, I have very few of them. I think I'...
48
votes
10answers
10k views
How to communicate to a new coworker that I am not comfortable being touched?
Last week a new coworker joined our team, and yesterday we were both invited to eat lunch in the work cafeteria with some other colleagues that I have known for around a year and a half. As he, ...
8
votes
3answers
710 views
How to “Read a room” and quickly perform an assessment of the mood, group dynamics or tension?
During a course on interpersonal skills, we did several exercises to help us assess our own abilities. I realised that while I do fine with assessing mood, reaction and engagement in one-on-one ...
77
votes
14answers
20k views
How can I tactfully interrupt a customer service representative over the phone?
I had to telephone my bank, as my security device stopped working. The staff member said:
Before we continue with the nature of your call, are you interested in completing a survey
I wasn't. So I ...
77
votes
19answers
21k views
Not having to explain my reasons for wanting to keep my last name
As a female in the UK, I'm expected to drop my last name and take my (male) partners' name when we get married - there's no law against me keeping my last name, though it's generally frowned upon.
...
7
votes
3answers
855 views
Politely rejecting unwanted attention at a nightclub.
I am in a happy relationship, so when I go to a nightclub with friend(s) I am not looking to pick anyone up, or dance with anyone other than the people/person I came out with.
When I go out to a ...
3
votes
3answers
685 views
Politely requesting the office lights remain on?
I work in a small office, there's 6 of us in total, so it's not possible to turn off "some" of the lights without turning them all off.
In the UK, we're now in the Spring season, which generally ...
46
votes
5answers
8k views
How to deal with disruptive people in the cinema
In my last two cinema trips I have had disruptive people in the cinema.
One was a group of 4-5 early 20s men, one of whom in particular was talking very loudly. I stared at him until he looked back ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
How to make an adult aware that commenting on their rude behaviour is not necessarily bullying?
Among a circle of friends (mostly in our mid-to-late 20s), one of us is called 'Hugh'. We have been friends for several years without any falling-outs. Whether it is only the two of us meeting or in a ...
76
votes
12answers
18k views
How can I ask if something's free, without looking stingy?
Some waiters offer something (e.g. distilled water; more amuse-bouches, hors d'œuvre or bread) without disclosing if it's free. How can I clarify tactfully?
I always decline, as I don't know how to ...
25
votes
10answers
9k views
How to tell driving instructor that I want to change instructors?
I have been with the same driving instructor for 3 years, I have taken my test 3 times and I have failed. After failing the first time, my family said that I should probably try a different driving ...
45
votes
13answers
13k 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
2answers
524 views
How can I tactfully convince someone not to repeat something I already know? [closed]
My student grandmother's university staff always uselessly reminds her to consult the university's website, when she already did and could not find the necessary information there. She's been tactful ...
67
votes
4answers
15k views
Witnessed a woman being abused (groped) in a nightclub
Scenario
Last Thursday I (21 year old male) was in my student union as there was a Drum and Bass Event happening. I went out with a fairly large group, about 8 lads including me and 2 girls. We were ...
