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1500 questions
53
votes
15 answers
How can I find out what surprise my wife wants?
My wife never gives any hints about what she wants for her birthday (even after extensive direct questioning), but is sometimes disappointed that I didn’t get her the right thing.
This time, it turns out she wanted me to organise a surprise fun…
user13262
52
votes
5 answers
Co-tenants set up an inflatable pool outside my window. It's now breeding bugs. What can I do?
A few weeks ago, I moved into a single-person house across from a larger four-person house on the same property. We are all college students in a college town, in the US. If it matters, I'm two grades above them. We share a backyard.
About a week…
user2203
52
votes
11 answers
How do I politely end a cold call I've received?
I've kept my phone numbers out of the public domain now, as I really do not like being cold called by businesses or charities.
I have found that I used to try and be polite, but then the person calling me would try to get a foot in the door by…
user57
52
votes
4 answers
How do I get my boyfriend to remove pictures of his ex girlfriend hanging in his apartment?
Background Information: We have been together for 2.5 years. We do not live together, but visit each others apartments around 5 times a week. He is in his early 30s and I am in my mid 20s. We live in Germany
Story:
A few month ago I found a picture…
Pudora
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52
votes
5 answers
How to tell someone I'd like to become friends without causing them to think I'm romantically interested in them?
I met someone at a party last weekend through our mutual friends. We got along pretty well and realized we had some common interests. We discussed a lot until I was called by a friend to help with the barbecue and when I came back, they'd left (they…
avazula
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52
votes
3 answers
How to decline physical affection from a child whose parents are pressuring them?
My Situation
I am an uncle to 6 nieces and nephews. I live about 1000 miles away from the rest of my family, so I only see them 2-3 times each year. When it comes time to say goodbye, it is common practice for physical affection to be given out. My…
Rainbacon
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52
votes
10 answers
How do I avoid strange questions because of a flag?
First of I should mention that I like Russia, have been there and I just like the people, the culture, the architecture. Pretty much every friend/coworker/family members knows and accepts that.
But lately I have gathered a lot of strange stares and…
user18596
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52
votes
13 answers
How can I politely get the attention of a coworker who is listening to music?
At work a few weeks ago, a coworker was listening to music with her earphones in, and I needed to ask her a question because a piece of code I was writing was not working and she often helps me debug things. I pulled her earphones out of her ear and…
teslajin
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52
votes
5 answers
How to deal with disruptive people in the cinema
In my last two cinema trips I have had disruptive people in the cinema.
One was a group of 4-5 early 20s men, one of whom in particular was talking very loudly. I stared at him until he looked back at me, and I did the international sign for "what…
WhatEvil
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52
votes
4 answers
How to tell a trans couple that their overly romantic behaviour makes you uncomfortable, without coming across transphobic?
Intro:
We all have seen a couple who are so in love they have lengthy kisses in public, always display affection, call each other cute names and wherever they go or sit, they always appear to cuddle. Many people find that gross and awkward to look…
Mythical_Ewe
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51
votes
8 answers
How to remark politely that you are not an idiot, just not fluent on english language?
As a foreigner in an English speaking country, I meet people in several situations, business and social.
As you are introduced to conversations, you sometimes get lost because of lack of fluency in the English language.
Sometimes you feel your…
Rogelio Triviño
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51
votes
9 answers
How do I effectively get people to look past my age when considering my abilities, if they know how old I am?
This is something I run into sometimes, as I'm 15 years old currently and a moderator on an online community. Sometimes, people will doubt my abilities, especially online, when they become aware of my age (although people generally seem to think…
Mithical
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51
votes
16 answers
How to communicate to my co-workers that they don't have to say "bless you" when I sneeze?
I am slightly annoyed by my co-workers who say "bless you" everytime I sneeze. It feels awkward to me to reply with a "thank you". I usually only thank people when they really helped me out in a matter and that's also when I expect other people to…
arminb
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51
votes
14 answers
How to survive as a notter where it is not the norm?
I am a serial and consistent "notter"¹: I do not drink (alcohol or coffee), smoke, do any form of drugs, I'm a vegetarian, etc.
All of these things have been consistent for me for a decade or more.
I am ending up in situations, recently, where…
Weckar E.
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51
votes
10 answers
How can I play the devil's advocate in politics without being attacked?
Background
When it comes to politics I prefer to take the role of a "devil's advocate" instead of firmly entrenching myself into one political party's ideas. I do not like to disclose my own vote to people because of hostility from others who voted…
TheRealLester
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