Greetings, Miss MannersI have been gradually changing my lifestyle over the past two years to be more environmentally friendly. Is it impolite to provide reusable or environmentally friendly items to loved ones?
For instance, instead of using her employer’s throwaway plastic utensils for lunch, I would want to provide my sister with a set of reusable utensils now that she has a new job. Is that acceptable? Would goodie bags containing, for example, bamboo toothbrushes and powdered tooth soap be deemed too intimate for acquaintances?
Giving gifts that reflect my principles without interfering with someone’s right to select whatever goods best fit their lifestyle is something I wish to accomplish. How do I step over that boundary?
PERSONAL READER:It’s a great distinction to think about. Another is Miss Manners: Is your goal to encourage the receivers to make adjustments they don’t particularly want to make, or are you thinking about gifts that you think they will value and enjoy?
Your loved ones are probably aware of your desire to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. You appear considerate enough to have expressed your opinions without using the widely used—and usually ineffectual—shaming tactic. You’ll have been aware of any interest and prepared to provide support and guidance.
However, it is against the spirit of giving to give gifts that are meant to please you rather than to please them. You may undoubtedly find products that honor your goals without pressuring others to use or waste them.
Greetings, Miss MannersNext door, a young couple moved in. Even though the former occupant resides in the same tiny town (and has a store here), they never get in touch with her when they get mail addressed to her.
I accidentally delivered some marketing materials she had requested from me to her old address, and they were included in one recent package. My new neighbor put the package on my doorstep after we worked out the issue and I texted him. But he hadn’t done anything about it for three weeks.
These neighbors instantly move inside when my husband enters the adjoining vegetable garden while they are on their terrace. What is the matter with these individuals?
PERSONAL READER:It’s possible that they are honeymooning. They might be on the run. Who knows? However, they are not required to interact with you.
In any event, they have the pleasure of being excellent neighbors, but only to a certain extent. It went beyond keeping someone else’s letters. When your former neighbor asks for her mail to be forwarded, Miss Manners hopes the post office would respond more quickly.
Greetings, Miss MannersIn 2024, how frequently is Mrs. John Doe used to refer to married women in the United States?
GENTLE READER: Very little. For the sake of consistency, however, Miss Manners reminds you that widows and wives who would rather keep their long-standing, conventional way shouldn’t be forced to change.
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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