DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why accomplish that many individuals, principally younger, really feel the necessity to stick out their tongue when an image is being taken of them?
This isn’t very photogenic, and in reality ruins the image!
GENTLE READER: That’s the reason.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: In a historic novel I used to be studying, a younger girl was widowed, and he or she was bemoaning that she must put on solely pearls — no diamonds. Was that basically a factor at one time?
GENTLE READER: Sure. Mourning, which might final a minimum of two years for a widow, proscribed any jewellery besides pearls and black onyx, with the one gold permitted being the marriage ring. Every part was presupposed to be matte, so even clothes fabricated from shiny materials was not presupposed to be worn.
Ridiculous, you say?
Nicely, ridiculously exaggerated. Maybe solely in novels had been women condemned to dowdiness in tribute to somebody of whom they could have been solely too delighted to be free.
Now, expressing mourning although look has just about been dropped. Many individuals don’t even put on black to funerals, a lot much less afterwards — except it’s to weddings.
However seen mourning did serve a function. On the funeral, it indicated respect for the deceased. And in later levels, it warned others that the wearer’s state was presumably fragile.
As quaint because it appears, Miss Manners would suppose a modified model can be helpful these days as safety in opposition to sidewalk therapists, with their unsolicited calls for that the bereaved rapidly obtain “closure.”
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’ve a mobility situation that causes me to wobble and stumble. A number of years in the past, I started to make use of a walker as a result of it helps hold me from falling.
I used to like to put on attire for particular events like weddings, anniversary events and such. However now that I take advantage of the walker, and sometimes sit in it at particular occasions, I’m not comfy carrying attire. A brief costume doesn’t cowl sufficient of my legs when seated, and an extended one will get caught within the walker’s wheels.
Would it not be impolite of me to put on a dressy pantsuit to particular occasions and formal events?
GENTLE READER: Now that the dressy pantsuit is the uniform of feminine senators and different high-ranking officers, Miss Manners believes you’re protected.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I perceive that we shouldn’t discuss faith, nor about politics.
Now it’s meals that’s verboten.
Sports activities? Please, no!
Journey plans or journey experiences? Yawn.
Well being considerations? Yech.
Bragging/complaining about kids/different kin/neighbors/jobs? Snore.
Reminiscing about faculty/highschool experiences?
Gossip? Particularly about strangers?
Please present an inventory of authorized subjects.
GENTLE READER: Certain. Simply as quickly as you present Miss Manners with an inventory of subjects on which you are ready to have a civil and respectful give-and-take with individuals whose opinions could also be completely different from your individual.
