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1500 questions
45
votes
7 answers
How to avoid "who are you?" as a response to "how are you?"
Last week, I got a phone call from an unknown number, and the conversation went this way:
Her : How are you?
Me : Who are you?
To put things in context, she turned out to be an old friend. She apparently assumed that I would have her number…
Masked Man
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45
votes
4 answers
A coworker mumbles to herself when working. How can I ask her to stop?
My coworker, who sits right next to me, keeps mumbling to herself when she types or reads. It is a not-too loud, low-voice mumble that I can hear without understanding words.
It really irritates me and disturbs me from my own thinking, but I do not…
YohanRoth
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45
votes
12 answers
Is it rude to ask if a pregnancy was planned?
When someone tells you that they (or their partner) are pregnant, is it rude or impolite to ask if the pregnancy was planned?
I imagine it depends on how close one is to the couple or one of the (future) parents, but there might be cultural…
luchonacho
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45
votes
10 answers
How to answer a technical question without sounding patronizing
Context :
My girlfriend (let's call her V) and I, are programmers, and sometimes we ask each other questions when we believe the other may have an answer.
A few times, she’s told me that I sounded patronizing in my answer (which might be the case,…
user20726
45
votes
12 answers
How to get my wife to remember to say "please"
We've been married for over five years now, have two little kids and our relationship is as good as can be. We both value harmony very highly and thus tend to avoid an open conflict whenever possible - and so far there was little to none reason for…
Thomas
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45
votes
4 answers
How to politely request we don't eat out for lunch on my first day at new job?
Tomorrow I start work as a software developer -- my first full time job. Four of my close friends work at the same company. They usually eat lunch in the break room, but for everyone's interviews and first days they've gone out to eat.
We went out…
StarSweeper
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45
votes
5 answers
How do I tell someone I recently met that I am in a relationship?
Before I begin
I am male
I am in a long term relationship with a woman that I live with
I am in an environment where I frequently meet new people
The story
Throughout recent years, I have been in an environment where I frequently meet new people.…
Link0352
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45
votes
13 answers
What is the current etiquette in the US and UK regarding a man holding doors for female companions?
In my country of origin, Hungary, men should enter pubs and bars before their female companions, as opposed to holding the door for them. This is due to the assumption that pubs and bars can be dangerous and it would be impolite to let the lady…
user16021
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45
votes
14 answers
How can I address a man talking inappropriately about women?
Source is this twitter thread: https://twitter.com/MalwareJake/status/976848126987374593
Excerpt:
She said that the guy who appeared to be the unofficial group leader started talking about one of the (very few) female conference speakers like a…
Jan
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45
votes
10 answers
Boyfriend always responds "I didn't mean to" when he gets feedback
My boyfriend (been together 4 years) will always respond with "I didn't mean to!", when someone points out to him he did something wrong. It always sounds slightly accusatory when he says it, like he wants to say: "I'm only human, stop blaming me!".…
Belle
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45
votes
9 answers
How to significantly reduce my hairstylist's tip, without upsetting her?
My haircuts - here in Manhattan - are expensive; if you care to have a hairstyle at all, and not just a quick shave with clippers at the barber shop, then the minimum cost is about $55 dollars, which is what I currently pay.
(Other stylists in my…
D.Hutchinson
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45
votes
4 answers
How to tell a "friend" to stop pretending to flirt with my girlfriend?
There's this acquaintance of both my girlfriend and I that pretends to flirt with my girlfriend. Neither of us are close enough with him to classify him as a "friend," though both my girlfriend and I get along well with him [except for this…
abcdefg
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44
votes
7 answers
How to say "I'm an adult now" to my parents?
I have an issue with my parents meddling in my personal choices. Let's say they are neutral habits, which means you can't say it's good or bad, like shaking my feet when I'm idle - note that this does not disturb anyone, it's just that they have…
Vylix
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44
votes
10 answers
What do you do if someone is telling you something you already know about, such as a fact or something that happened?
One thing that has been happening lately is that people will tell me something that I already know. Naturally, I respond saying something like, "oh I heard/read about that". However, I feel like when I say that, I come off a bit snobby or like I am…
scorgn
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44
votes
4 answers
How to find out if a party received your gift if it hasn't been somehow acknowledged?
This past winter, a pair of neighbors dug me out of a snowstorm*. I was incredibly grateful, as it was very deep and it would have taken me days to do what they did together in about two hours.
I found out from another neighbor what their favorite…
anongoodnurse
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