ArcaMax

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am always looking to meet new people and make new friends. But for the last five years or so, I have noticed that people only want to talk about themselves -- their travels, home renovations, work, etc.

I understand that the favorite topic of conversation for most people is themselves, but what happened to a two-way ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I occasionally enjoy having lunch at a restaurant with a group of longtime friends. All is well until the time comes when they want to take a group photo, which, of course, gets posted on Facebook.

I do not post on social media. I do not want my life, in words nor photos, posted. So I quietly say I'll back out of camera range...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A few of my cousins have gotten married recently, and they requested that no children attend their weddings, aside from the ones performing the roles of ring bearer and flower girl.

This request would have been completely foreign when I was growing up. I have found the situation awkward, especially for family weddings, since ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My ex-husband and I have been divorced for over 20 years. We see each other at family functions and are very cordial and polite with each other, as is his girlfriend, who also attends these events.

Neither of us has remarried. He has been in a relationship with this female for many years, but they don't live together.

When ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a man with curly hair. A year ago, I decided to grow it out. Today I went in for a haircut. I told the barber that I was growing it "classical musician" long, but that I needed the bottom of the back trimmed up. I expected it could use a little bit of shaping up all over, as well.

When he was finished and turned me ...Read more