Should you happen to notice that another person is extremely tall or overweight, eats too much or declines convivial drinks, has red hair or goes about in a wheelchair, ought to get married or ought not to be pregnant -- see if you can refrain from bringing these astonishing observations to that person's attention.
Judith MartinSmart people duck when they hear the dread announcement 'I'm going to be perfectly honest with you.
Judith MartinYes, etiquette is hypocritical. Yes, it does inhibit children - if you're lucky. But the idea that it's elitist and irrelevant is like saying language is elitist and irrelevant.
Judith MartinFairness does not consist so much of everybody's doing the same thing, but of everybody's being willing to do something that others don't want to do.
Judith Martin