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Sometimes it’s best just to let etiquette speak for itself commonsensically:
- Hang up and drive.
- Shut up and eat.
- If you’re gonna go, go.*
- Never ask why you weren’t invited; you might find out.
- Never ask why someone didn’t show up; you might find out.
- R.s.v.p. now; you won’t get a better offer.
- If you don’t know what to wear, ask the hosts. If they say "Oh, anything" ask what they’re wearing.
- Nobody wants to see your underwear outside the bedroom. And maybe not even there . . .
- For handkerchiefs, carry one to show and one to blow.
- For jewelry, put on everything you think is right and take one piece off. Too bad this can’t be done with piercings and tattoos.
- For Maximum Fun Potential, arrive on time. This fashionable lateness stuff is a pain.
- Don’t start eating until the hostess lifts her fork.
- If you’re allergic, don’t eat it.
- If you’re not allergic, shut up and eat.
- One more drink and you’ll be under the host.**
- Send the thank-you note the next day.
- Unless you’re the bride, don’t wear white or ivory or "champagne" to the wedding.
- Unless it’s a tuxedo, don’t wear black to the wedding.
- Don’t bring your wedding gift to the wedding.
- Ladies first, unless you’re going downstairs, off a bus, or through a revolving door.
- Serve from the left, remove from the right.
- Turn off your cell phone at the table, in the theatre, in the cinema, and in the bathroom.
- If you’re talking on your cell phone in public, don’t get indignant when someone starts asking you questions about your phone conversation. It’s your own fault blabbing about your business on the street in the first place.
- If you want to hang around, you’ll be polite.***
- Don’t make trouble. On the other hand, if you’re bleeding, not saying anything will make trouble.
- There’s no place for your PDA at the table, either your Personal Digital Assistant or your Public Display of Affection.
- It may be five o’clock somewhere, but if it’s not five o’clock here, it’s time to switch back to ginger ale.
- A theatre is not a stadium. Keep your seat until intermission.
- Reference to flatulence is rude. Remember, "he who smelt it dealt it."
- All you have to say is "No thank you;" no explanation is required.
- And of course Etiquetteer’s guiding motto: no one cares what you want or how you feel, so just be polite.
Please share your own etiquette one-liners, or any manners question you have, with Etiquetteer at query <at> etiquetteer.com!* Courtesy of great-grandmother Dougherty.** Courtesy of Dorothy Parker.*** Courtesy of Sam Spade in "The Maltese Falcon."
Etiquetteer cordially invites you to join the notify list if you would like to know as soon as new columns are posted. Join by sending e-mail to notify <at> etiquetteer.com.
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