Friendly greeting needs no conditions
Dear Miss Manners:
An old friend of mine has recently developed what I consider to be a disrespectful habit. Each time we speak, he prefaces the conversation with, “How’s everything going? Except for work, that is,” suggesting that I spend too much time on the subject. I hardly ever mention my job, but even if I had, so what?
I never place any restrictions on his part of the conversation. How do I kindly tell him that I’ll talk about what I like?
Gentle Reader:
“Oh, no. Is work not going well for you?”
Dear Miss Manners:
Is it rude to clip your nails at your work desk?
I work in a cubicle and usually notice that my nails are getting longer while typing on a keyboard. I find it handy to just take care of them then and there.
Gentle Reader:
Surely, your co-workers have lots of disgusting habits that they would like to take care of quickly and in public, but no one wants to see or hear them, either. Miss Manners recommends that rather than causing officewide resentment and an HR firestorm, you find a way to take care of your hygienic impulses in private.