CatLivingFilter: One of my roommate's two cats has become very attached to me, probably because my roommate (by his own admission) inherited the cat from an ex relationship and never really liked it that much. That's cool--I like cats, and cats like me. What I don't like is that the cat has become so attached that it will yell inconsolably outside my door, scratch at my door, and sometimes even bash into my door in despair of not being in my room. This has become a major sleep disrupting problem for me. What can I reasonably expect my roommate to do to respond to this situation? [more inside]
posted by The Sock Puppet Sentience Movement on Feb 14, 2013 - 35 answers

How do I, very much an asker, make it easy and comfortable for an askee if they want to say "no"? or do I need to just not ask? [more inside]
posted by spbmp on Mar 10, 2012 - 29 answers

Unwilling toddlers and forced social interactions with adults: is it OK to instruct your child to (for instance) hug Great-Aunt Maisie, when she'd prefer not to? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Dec 29, 2011 - 46 answers

What are some not-obvious things you can't/shouldn't say to women? [more inside]
posted by pauldonato on Sep 15, 2010 - 172 answers

Every time I hear a journalist say "Tell me about ..." when interviewing someone on television, I get really annoyed. It seems so incredibly presumptuous, pompous and impolite to demand an answer of a guest like that. Yet it happens all over the world. Is this standard journalistic practice? What's the reasoning behind it? Anyone else feel the same way or am I being a relic? [more inside]
posted by zaebiz on May 9, 2008 - 39 answers

My Fair ... Gentleman? Please give me a crash course on being a gentleman for a date with a lady. [more inside]
posted by TimeTravelSpeed on Oct 16, 2007 - 59 answers

ModernDayEtiquetteFilter: What is the general consensus on returning calls (received on one's mobile phone) based on a missed call log vs. leaving a message? [more inside]
posted by uaudio on Aug 30, 2007 - 56 answers

Is it considered misogynous to use "the C-word" ? It had never even occured to me that it might be until my sister asked that I never use it as it was "so anti-women." At the right moment, it's SUCH a useful word, but I don't want to appear to be "anti-women", since I'm not . Is my sister's view unusual?
posted by bunglin jones on Jan 17, 2005 - 112 answers

What do you say or do when someone out of the Blue - generally a fellow user who rarely comments and so is quite new to you - suddenly e-mails for the first time saying he or she will be in town, is interested in something you could help with and would like to have a drink with you?

It's clearly a friendly invitation but how do you politely decline, without having to lie and/or appearing to be a stuffed shirt?
posted by MiguelCardoso on Oct 21, 2004 - 45 answers

i want to be polite. Is there an alternative honorific to Miss and Ma'am which is age indiscriminate? [more inside]
posted by quin on Feb 10, 2004 - 16 answers