All Questions
3,927
questions
48
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
48
votes
6
answers
11k
views
How best to conduct myself if bringing my significant other to a party where they do not know anyone?
If I am bringing my significant other (SO) to a party where they do not know anyone, and also, the people in attendance all have something in common and are gathering for a common reason - in this ...
- 481
48
votes
11
answers
15k
views
How can I recognise that I am teasing someone too much without verbal feedback from that person?
In my situation, I am dating someone who is the typical class-clown type and enjoys being funny and making jokes. Sometimes our coworkers (we met at work) tease him and I'll join in. Most of the time ...
- 653
48
votes
7
answers
9k
views
How to avoid short answers when talking to my family? [duplicate]
I am a 30 year old programmer, and I feel like becoming more and more a "program" myself.
When talking with friends or families, except for a certain group of friends with whom it's always ...
- 583
48
votes
8
answers
20k
views
How to politely correct a teacher?
I'm a high-school student in the United States, and from time to time a teacher makes a mistake while writing on the board in front of the class. Usually, the mistakes are minor, such as forgotten ...
- 441
47
votes
8
answers
17k
views
How can I ensure people know 'What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch"
Preface: I am an incredibly passionate and competitive soccer player. I absolutely despise losing and I love a good physical and mental battle when playing on the pitch.
Recently, a new friend of ...
- 2,120
47
votes
6
answers
33k
views
How do I respond when someone answers 'Yes' when I ask "Would anyone like the last [Item]?"?
So today at work we had a tray of doughnuts, my colleague called out to the office, "I'm going to have the last one unless anyone else would like it?". At this point, I realised that I don't think I'...
- 589
47
votes
14
answers
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 ...
user2423
47
votes
11
answers
24k
views
How to kill off my DnD character, without upsetting the Dungeon Master who has invested time into creating his backstory?
For the past two years, I've been playing the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons with a single group of 5 friends.
Up till now, we have played as the same characters, which grow as part ...
user10883
47
votes
10
answers
11k
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, ...
- 907
47
votes
14
answers
15k
views
How to avoid an awkward situation when someone just thoroughly slammed something you like?
To put it broadly, this is about guilty pleasures, that are not accepted in one's social environment. This excludes more serious topics (politics, religion, legal/moral questions etc.). Think of ...
47
votes
5
answers
12k
views
My sister has an alcohol and drug addiction. How can I get people to stop asking me about her?
I have a younger sibling, let’s call her Sarah. Who has a severe alcohol and drug addiction problem. I’m talking 9 separate rehabs, 10 in hospital detox’s and 4 different events in which she was ...
- 391
47
votes
13
answers
88k
views
How can I politely refuse to help classmates with their work?
I am the smart guy at school and people always want my help. I don't want to be rude, but they pester me and I try to escape but I can't -- I end up spending a lot of time helping them to do a ...
- 562
47
votes
10
answers
18k
views
How do I convince my parents that I'm doing my best in class?
I'm in middle school, and by my school's standards, I get fairly high marks (90%, maybe a bit above or below). However, my parents believe that I'm not doing my best.
I'm also undergoing exams, and ...
- 480
47
votes
7
answers
13k
views
How do I deal with someone people think is funny, but I think is mean?
There is someone that dropped out of college but still visits our friend group about once a month who tries to be funny by making intentionally hurtful comments to 2 or 3 different people in the group ...
- 4,780
46
votes
4
answers
10k
views
How do I tell my stepson and his wife that I don't want to babysit their son overnight right now, after losing my mother, without coming off badly?
I have a 15 month old step grandson who is adorable. He and his parents (my stepson) live about an hour away so it's not too far to do some babysitting. We have watched him for weekends, and of course ...
Laurie smith
46
votes
11
answers
79k
views
How to deal with my boyfriend’s mother without affecting my relationship with him?
Background
I have been dating my boyfriend for 5 years now and even if everything is perfect with him and I couldn’t be happier, it is not the same with his family and especially with his mother, who ...
- 669
46
votes
10
answers
16k
views
How to tell your grandparent to not come to fetch you with their car?
I often come to visit my grandparents during the weekend and they will always come to fetch me at the train station in their car.
However, my grandpa (who is the one driving) is old and his vision has ...
- 17.2k
46
votes
5
answers
11k
views
How to ask my office to remove the pride decorations without appearing anti-LGBTQ?
First, for clarification, I am not anti-LGBTQ.
My office has taken part in the Pride Month, which is celebrated throughout the UK in June every year. The month celebrations end in a large Pride ...
- 429
45
votes
8
answers
48k
views
How to politely tell a friend that I want to hang out with her, but not invite others?
I have a crush on my college friend and want to take her out to cinemas or other places. When I ask her out, she always asks me if her female friend could go along with her. I know it's not a date ...
- 810
45
votes
12
answers
22k
views
Is it rude to ask if a pregnancy was planned? [closed]
When someone tells you that they (or their partner) are pregnant, is it rude or impolite to ask if the pregnancy was planned?
I imagine it depends on how close one is to the couple or one of the (...
- 3,259
45
votes
5
answers
25k
views
How do I tell someone I recently met that I am in a relationship?
Before I begin
I am male
I am in a long term relationship with a woman that I live with
I am in an environment where I frequently meet new people
The story
Throughout recent years, I have been in ...
- 4,216
45
votes
13
answers
16k
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 ...
- 709
45
votes
16
answers
15k
views
How to explain to coworkers that being vegan does not mean I know everything about it?
The other day, I was in a company meal with ~20 coworkers and someone offered me wine before adding: "At least you know this is vegan." (because I'm vegan). I don't like alcohol so I ...
- 17.2k
45
votes
5
answers
10k
views
How to address awful smells from the flat above [closed]
Apologies for the large amount of run-up; the context feels very relevant:
My wife and I live in a 1930s block of flats in London. We are on the ground floor, of a staircase of 8 flats, so we're at ...
- 590
45
votes
10
answers
12k
views
Do we need good fences to make good neighbors?
My suburban neighborhood has about 80% dog ownership, but most dog owners don't have fences. I don't either.
My across-the-street neighbor "Abby" and I have been becoming friends. It started over a ...
- 24.8k
45
votes
3
answers
14k
views
How to tell boss about pregnancy?
I am about 22 weeks pregnant and it's getting to the point where it's hard to hide! I haven't told my boss or any coworkers yet.
I have a doctors note saying the due date etc.
I'm a bit of a wimp ...
- 1,915
45
votes
10
answers
28k
views
How can I invite my daughter's friends over without being odd?
My daughter is turning 4 years old in August. She has been going to preschool since September. Her class is pretty small, with only 6 kids. She's good friends with most of them. She'll be joining them ...
- 1,915
45
votes
10
answers
22k
views
Boyfriend always responds "I didn't mean to" when he gets feedback [closed]
My boyfriend (been together 4 years) will always respond with "I didn't mean to!", when someone points out to him he did something wrong. It always sounds slightly accusatory when he says it, like he ...
- 7,982
45
votes
20
answers
10k
views
How can I tell people that my girlfriend and I don't want children of our own?
Every time there's a baby involved in any sort of conversation (new parent, talking about kids, etc.), if I'm involved the question inevitably turns to me and my girlfriend, and when we plan to have ...
- 3,318
45
votes
4
answers
19k
views
A coworker mumbles to herself when working. How can I ask her to stop?
My coworker, who sits right next to me, keeps mumbling to herself when she types or reads. It is a not-too loud, low-voice mumble that I can hear without understanding words.
It really irritates me ...
- 559
45
votes
13
answers
13k
views
How can I politely say to my coworker that he should not comment on what I am eating [closed]
Problem:
Every day, we are eating at a table of 10 people and there is a man that I like but who is not my friend, just a coworker that I only see during breaks who always comments on the food choices ...
- 1,795
45
votes
5
answers
13k
views
How can I ask a possible long-lost relative to prove his identity?
I found myself in a peculiar situation yesterday. I was contacted via Facebook by a person (let's call him Bob) who claimed that he was one of my mom's cousins and hadn't talked to her in over 40 ...
- 8,987
45
votes
7
answers
14k
views
How to avoid "who are you?" as a response to "how are you?"
Last week, I got a phone call from an unknown number, and the conversation went this way:
Her : How are you?
Me : Who are you?
To put things in context, she turned out to be an old ...
- 889
45
votes
4
answers
16k
views
How to ask someone to not leave their pee on the floor when they use my bathroom?
I have a male nurse who comes to my house every so often to give me medication and observe me all day for any reactions. When he is here, he leaves pee puddles on the floor in front of the toilet (...
- 459
44
votes
9
answers
24k
views
How to significantly reduce my hairstylist's tip, without upsetting her?
My haircuts - here in Manhattan - are expensive; if you care to have a hairstyle at all, and not just a quick shave with clippers at the barber shop, then the minimum cost is about $55 dollars, which ...
44
votes
12
answers
26k
views
How to get my wife to remember to say "please"
We've been married for over five years now, have two little kids and our relationship is as good as can be. We both value harmony very highly and thus tend to avoid an open conflict whenever possible -...
- 795
44
votes
4
answers
21k
views
How to tell a "friend" to stop pretending to flirt with my girlfriend?
There's this acquaintance of both my girlfriend and I that pretends to flirt with my girlfriend. Neither of us are close enough with him to classify him as a "friend," though both my girlfriend and I ...
- 411
44
votes
11
answers
22k
views
How to avoid answering "what were you sick with"?
I have been on "sick leave" for a little more than a week due to mental health issues. I'm now back to work and my coworkers are asking "did you have the flu?" or other questions like that.
I know ...
- 17.2k
44
votes
12
answers
14k
views
How can I try to have my mom help me understand why she won't accept a sincere apology?
Background:
About 8 years ago, we started having some serious trouble with a couple of neighbors (which slowly escalated to call-the-cops and get-a-lawyer kind of trouble). There was some property ...
- 33.9k
44
votes
4
answers
19k
views
How to politely request we don't eat out for lunch on my first day at new job?
Tomorrow I start work as a software developer -- my first full time job. Four of my close friends work at the same company. They usually eat lunch in the break room, but for everyone's interviews and ...
- 574
44
votes
5
answers
22k
views
Angry at me for not coming over
I am dating a woman I met 2 weeks ago. We understand each other very well and like each other. For the past 4 days, she was away in her hometown and came back yesterday evening. During that time I had ...
- 2,857
44
votes
14
answers
14k
views
How can I address a man talking inappropriately about women? [duplicate]
Source is this twitter thread: https://twitter.com/MalwareJake/status/976848126987374593
Excerpt:
She said that the guy who appeared to be the unofficial group leader started talking about one of ...
- 565
44
votes
7
answers
12k
views
Can my sister convey to her womanizer boss by her body language and general behavior that she is not 'available' for an 'office romance'?
My sister recently accepted a high-paying job offer as office administrator in a local firm in our hometown in India, run by a divorced middle aged financial consultant. She is due to join next week ...
- 10.5k
44
votes
9
answers
120k
views
What is the etiquette for asking whether someone has a special diet
Is there an etiquette for asking if there are certain things a person does not want or cannot eat? If I cook for a group of people, is it on them to tell me about it, or do I ask them? If it's on me ...
- 523
44
votes
10
answers
15k
views
How to answer a technical question without sounding patronizing
Context :
My girlfriend (let's call her V) and I, are programmers, and sometimes we ask each other questions when we believe the other may have an answer.
A few times, she’s told me that I sounded ...
user20726
44
votes
10
answers
82k
views
It's my birthday! How do I tell people who don't know, who might want to know, without being awkward?
It's my birthday*! It's a rather important birthday.
There are a lot of people who might want to know such a thing, because of social customs or friendliness or something. One of those things.
...
user2203
44
votes
7
answers
15k
views
How to say "I'm an adult now" to my parents?
I have an issue with my parents meddling in my personal choices. Let's say they are neutral habits, which means you can't say it's good or bad, like shaking my feet when I'm idle - note that this does ...
- 8,468
44
votes
13
answers
12k
views
When someone states a view I don't agree with, and asks for confirmation, how to avoid giving it without triggering a debate?
There are many people who, after stating their political, religious or ideological view, or an opinion in a debated or controversial topic, explicitly ask for confirmation.
For example, "Am I right?",...
- 572
43
votes
10
answers
15k
views
Locking up around workmen
We're currently having some work done in the back garden and whilst I don't have any particular reason to distrust them I do feel a little uncomfortable around the workmen. The other day I was just ...
- 863