Clear cuts create discord

Dear Amy: I travel by air for work relatively often and have TSA Pre-Check to get through security faster.

My regional airport allows Clear to operate there, and I find myself getting angry every time a Clear employee escorts someone in front of me in line without acknowledging my presence, asking my permission or apologizing for cutting in front of me.

I’ve been trying to think of a clever and direct way to signal that I’m not OK with them walking in front of me.

I’ve even looked online to see if this is something I need to accept. Any thoughts?

Silently Simmering

Dear Simmering: Clear is a private company that uses biometrics (iris scan and fingerprints) to expedite passage through airport security. Clear offers “ambassadors” to escort paid users to the front of security lines.

Just as you have paid to join the TSA Pre-Check queue (allowing you to bypass many of the security checks other passengers tolerate), cutting the line seems to be the privilege Clear customers purchase.

An “ambassador” should make eye contact with you and say something like, “Excuse me, I’m escorting this Clear customer through the expedited line. Thank you for your patience.” In addition to being basically polite, treating other passengers well might sell their service to potential customers.

On the other hand, they may see any interchange with others as opening the door to complaints.

Your question is really about how to respond to this abrupt interruption. Saying, “Hi there — after you, have a nice flight,” might inspire an acknowledgment or a more polite response from them.

Dear Amy: I was married to a man named “Dan” for about a decade. We split six years ago, have two children and maintain an excellent co-parenting relationship.

After healing from the divorce, I started dating again and got into a two-year relationship with an abusive man, who, unfortunately, is also named Dan.

My family and I eventually referred to him as ”Bad Dan” for clarity.

Fast-forward a couple of years and I’m once again in a healthy relationship with a great guy — whose name also happens to be Dan.

I swear I don’t search these guys out. I actually used to automatically swipe left on any Dan I came across on dating sites.

I’m struggling with creative and respectful ways of referring to all these Dans!

Luckily, “Bad Dan” is now out of the picture.

However, my ex-husband and current boyfriend will both (I hope!) be in my life for some time to come.

They both have the same first and middle initials, although one could be Dan and one could be “DJ,” assuming that one is OK with going by his initials.

Do you have any other ideas? Too Many Dans

Dear TMD: First of all, there can never be too many Dans. This “Dan” thing is NBD (“No Big Deal,” or “No Bad Dan”).

Could your current Dan be “Danny?” Could your exhusband be ”Dan-X?

When my daughter was in preschool with about 14 other girls named “Emma,” everyone quickly adjusted to referring to them by first name plus surname initial.

Ask these Dans what they’d prefer. One of them might be harboring a secret wish to be called “Charlton” or “Amadeus.” Go with it.