Greetings, Miss Manners One of the characters in the soap opera I was watching, a very prim woman, responded to her granddaughter’s query while eating. She held her mouth as shut as she could while tucking the meal into her cheek.
In my opinion, that is more acceptable than letting her granddaughter wait for an answer as she swallowed and chewed. However, I’m interested in Miss Manners’ viewpoint.
GENTLE READER: According to Miss Manners, efficiency theorist Frederick Winslow Taylor was more amusing as a target of mockery in The Pajama Game than he is today, when nobody can recall his name but everyone firmly believes that efficiency is more significant than morality or manners.
Grandmama should take a few seconds to swallow her words before responding, as Miss Manners would prefer. Additionally, that the grandchild would be patient and respectful enough to wait.
In her own time, she would have spent those seconds wondering why actors and directors in theater, film, and television spend so much time learning about lighting and costumes and so little time learning about manners, which she feels are even more important to making a convincing character.
Stories by
Judith Martin
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Miss Manners: Husband s discourtesy to his mother-in-law is rubbing off on his children
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Miss Manners: How can I keep my loudmouth teen nephew from snooping in my bathroom cabinet?
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Miss Manners: Prolific Christmas card sender sees sudden lack in reciprocation
Greetings, Miss Manners My wife and I can’t agree on what to talk about at dinner. I believe that talking about someone’s condition or medical procedures during dinner is improper. I don’t believe that talking about someone’s physical condition or medical history when dining in or out is a good way to enjoy a nice dinner.
PERSONAL READER: Although Miss Manners agrees with you, you can inform your wife that she will allow her and her other doctors to talk about their patients as much as they like during lunch in the hospital cafeteria.
Miss Manners can be reached by email at [email protected], via her website at www.missmanners.com, or by mail at Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
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