C2 - Wednesday, January 16, 1985 - North Shure News BE HUMOROUS single female and recent college graduate, I Di MISS MANNERS — as a young, find that much of the business world assumes (erroneously) that I have a vested interest ~ in all young, single males with whom I interact. At a recent promotional event for my company, a female employee of the host location probed for my opi- nion of Bill, also an employee of the host location, by loud- ly asking, ‘*Don’tcha think Bill is cute?’ Angered :. ute pubescent nature of her question, yet not wanting to hurt Bill's ego, my response was, ‘““When?"”’ This sent my female co- worker into gales of laughter, and earned a glowering look and forced smile from Bill. Had I said yes, a proclama-, tion of my attraction to Bill (and I had none) would have been made; had | said no, Bill would have been mortally offended. As it was, I spent the rest of the evening working with Bill at arm’s length, due to his new found suspicion (despise?) of me, because of this offhand question. How can one tactfully ease out of such an unsolicited situation, particularly when one is in the position of main- taining good public relations for one’s. employer? GENTLE READER — Nobody asked Miss Man- ners’ opinion of Bill, but she _thinks he’s a dud. Your response to an impossible ‘question was both ingenious and funny, and she fails to see how any sensible person could be offended, rather than amused, by it. ’ However, she understands that it is not a good business miss manners by Judith Martin CE policy to allow anyone, however humorous, to go away disgruntled. . The tactful thing to say when you observed this (and which you may still put in a note) was, “I hope I didn’t embarras you by my little joke. The fact is, ] was put on the spot, and was only defen- ding myself from the embar- rassment of being asked to pass judgment on a businessman, who I believe deserves to be treated with more dignity.’’ ° DEAR MISS MANNERS — - A co-worker recently refused to accept her wedding gift Jon't be put on spot! | from the employees because it was presented after the wedding, instead of before. We couldn't take it to the wedding because none of us were invited, She said it was as bad as sending funeral flowers after the burial, We were flab- bergasted! We never heard of a time limit on presenting gifts. Is there such a rule? Is one weck after a wedding too late? GENTLE READER — Miss Manners doesn't know where your co-worker is getting her etiquette advice, but it is pro- bably the same place she is getting her advice about how to earn the respect of her col- leagues. Wedding presents may certainly be given after, as well as before, the wed- ding; in fact, bringing them to the wedding itself is the only gaffe. She suggests you return the present and redistribute the moncy you collected for it. DEAR MISS MANNERS — I have been criticized for us- ing the word “handbag,” or | sometimes just ‘‘bag,’’ in- «stead of the word ‘“‘purse.”’ Will you please comment on this? GENTLE READER — Among .those who quibble about that sort of thing, the preferred term is ‘‘bag,’’ and there is a prejudice against **handbag.’’ Personally, Miss Manners has nothing against ‘‘purse’’ or ‘‘pocket- | book,’’ but the former tradi- tionally refers to the item containing only. the money, and the second.to a memorandum book:and, by extension, the little papers or ' experience. Imagine cycling in style pytans | Christian Toys _. “apilano Mall NA cf . : f Select items b Noood od Selection ; Fisher-Price Y of Games 35% off 40-50% of several large dolls 50% off off AAI Super Special x Hot Wheels pak Set of 6 diecast cars — Reg. 9.98 Sale 5.99 Super Special x Lego Spacecraft 246 pieces — Reg. 31.98 Sale 19.99 and more — Lego, puzzies, stickers, novelties, party favors, das kits etc. All 50%-50% off Whiie quantities tast ‘Hans Christian Toys Good variety 4 ot model kits < 40% off 5 Capilano = mall Guy jinttincttinatintntinthagheathea att a ad a ee ee ee a a ee Net Starts January 17th cards tucked into its pockets. Thus you have made, by the strictest standards, only half an error, while those who criticized you made two: first by condemning the word “bag,”* and secondly by criticizing you. 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