Dinner guest spends entire visit watching videos on his cellphone

Dear Abby: A few months ago, my wife and I invited another couple over for dinner. The husband was on his phone the entire time, showing us Youtube videos he apparently thought were interesting. After dinner, he lamented that he had run out of data and wanted us to provide our Wi-fi password so he could continue watching his videos. I begrudgingly gave him access, but was really irked by it. Isn’t it rude for a dinner guest to ask to use your Wi-fi?

— Not So Interested

Dear Not So Interested: It was not rude to ask for your Wi-fi password. In some circles, it’s normal. What WAS rude was for one guest to monopolize the conversation the way that dinner guest did.

Dear Abby: I need help dealing with a neighbor problem. “Diane” and I have been neighbors for five years. We both have daughters in elementary school who ride the bus. At the bus stop, Diane always manages to point out something about my daughter or me that makes me uncomfortable. She’ll ask things like, “Are those new shoes?” “I like that jacket. Was it expensive?” “You have a new hairdo; did it cost much?” Or “Wow, how can you afford such nice clothes for your daughter?” “Are those new jeans? How much were they?”

I find her prying annoying and quite rude. Most of the other parents avoid her. I don’t feel I need to discuss what I spend for my child or myself with anyone. Other than this, she’s a nice neighbor. What’s the best way to get her to stop asking these questions?

— Annoyed in North Carolina

Dear Annoyed: The surest way to get your neighbor to stop asking these kinds of questions would be the direct approach.