How to invite new guests to someone else’s party

have a price tag attached. Invitations to those, under the guise of meeting new people, are not so charming.

In today’s “sharing” economy, there seems to be a level of expected niceties. I often find myself in a car on the way to an airport, wondering how to escape a lengthy, forced discussion. I imagine that the driver is also tired of the same conversations and would enjoy a chance for a moment or two of silence.

At times, I am working. At other times, I am communicating with whoever will be expecting me at my destination, or am coordinating my ID, boarding pass, etc. Is there any polite way to avoid these awkward conversations?

Unfortunately, conversation seems to be a commodity in these ride-sharing programs.

Miss Manners has found that most of them have a ratings system where you can express your opinion of the driver — and it often includes rating your conversation. She urges you to share your opinion to the contrary with the company, but until the system is rectified, you may give its drivers polite, limited responses to their inquiries. If that does not work say, “I am so sorry, but I have to get some work done/take this call. Perhaps we can chat later.”

I’ve been in my line of business for about 10 years, and am increasingly dealing with higher-level management clients at large companies. Clients can be more or less agreeable, but there have been two instances in my career that a client has crossed a line firmly into the unprofessional, becoming verbally abusive or shouting at my team and me.

Both times, I was so surprised I didn’t know what to do, so I just stared at the client in great surprise, waited a beat, and then kept talking about the business issue. One time, the client apologized afterward; the other time, the client issued a half-apology. I don’t anticipate many such situations in the future, but does Miss Manners have a better way of responding to such situations? In retrospect, I wish I had told the client something that indicated I would not tolerate this behavior. I do not mind losing business if that is the outcome.

You’d be justified in saying exactly that, in measured tones that both model good behavior and make your point. But your previous method of a confounded and lengthy stare seems to have worked well, too. You shouldn’t be deterred by the stare’s halfhearted response.

It seems to Miss Manners that anyone willing to become verbally abusive isn’t likely to do more than give a half-apology for that behavior. Quietly terminating the business relationship, however, will likely be even more effective.