I've got a thank-you note to write to a friend of my parents'-- already quite late, since the gift was given early last month. Difficulty: since then, the recipient's house was damaged fairly badly by Hurricane Sandy, and she's been struggling with the aftermath. I feel like her current rough situation warrants some sort of extra gesture or comment beyond the usual thank-you boilerplate, but what might that be? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Nov 9, 2012 - 8 answers

I was nasty and petty to an unpleasant neighbor, and now I feel terrible about it. How do I improve my confrontation skills, apologize to my neighbor and stop beating myself up? Painfully self-conscious guilt fest below the fold. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 3, 2010 - 57 answers

How do I keep my cool in a difficult conversation with my sister? [more inside]
posted by otherwordlyglow on Dec 10, 2008 - 21 answers

Can you help me find a good working definition of civility? [more inside]
posted by mirepoix on Apr 29, 2008 - 7 answers

Can you please point me in the direction to some good articles/rants/books regarding the decline of civility these days in the U.S. or anywhere for that matter.
posted by citybuddha on Feb 6, 2008 - 9 answers

People are rude. Really. Don't say thank you, run over your feet. Don't hold doors open. If you could live anywhere, particularly where people are friendly and civil, where would that be? [more inside]
posted by filmgeek on Nov 12, 2004 - 69 answers