wo ee ne Quit ' DEAR MISS MANNERS ~ I work. in a large shopping centre as a security. officer _ for one of the'stores. Being in uaiform and. outside the store, I am frequently asked . questions such as: . “Can you’ tell’ me where “(store name) is?”’ . -* “Do you ‘know all -the . stores here?” a ““BDo' you. know "where ‘*Where. is -there: a b: : 38'- Wednesday, April 17, 1985 - North Shore News “De you. work here?" | “(store ‘or busiriess name) is??? ’ another question? miss manners Bog “Hy by Judith Martin quibbling ‘Where can I buy a (brand name)?”’ Regarding. questions ‘one through four, I am often © fempted. to answer ‘‘Yes,”’ 21d let the person take it from there, . since I ‘DID. answer the * question asked of me, - The reason they want to know these fs so they can get. . to where they want to go.. Why don’t they just. ask . ““Where is.,..2°? instead of forcing, themselves to ask * North: ‘Vancouver’ I have been trained in the rillitary, as well as police work; to answer the question asked, which I did. A few..people get irate when I do this. Regarding question five, I have on occasion replied that there are no bathrooms in the’ shopping centre. This puzzles many: people, and some. have asked where one would go if ‘one. needed a toilet.’ . 1 expiaia to them ‘that a bathroom is:a room in‘a res- idence. where one would be . able (te take a shower or bath, and if that is what they want while in the shopping centre, they are out of luck. A few understand, but many really become Irate. Question six annoys many shoppers, because they ex- pect us to know that jinfor- mation, which security of- ficers don’t. All we can do is suggest. I am surprised to find out that. many people are not aware that public restrooms. are available In practically all department stores and restaurants. Am I wrong in just answering the question asked Blousy., “comp Linent every, vt. Fora world.o i curtains. and: draper of me, and not following through with the obvious answer they are wanting to know? GENTLE READER — Miss Manners can imagine that Standing on duty in front of a department store all day can tempt one to amuse one- self by playing word games ‘that will delay people with . full bladders from’ reaching the facilities they need. But ‘she certainly will not con- done this pastime as polite. If it were, she herself, who — also spends the day answer- ing questions, would skewer you ‘on your use of the term “restroom,” .which is as much of a euphemism for: ‘toilet’? as ‘‘bathroom.’’ But the quibble is ridiculous. Both terms are in acceptable usage in this country, and commonly understood. Wf you wish to limit yourself to the duties of be- ing a security guard, without making that siight. extra ,ef- fort to be helpful ‘to your fellow creature,. Miss. Man- ners will not condemn ycu, although she will shake her head: sadly ‘in. -disappoint- ment. _What would ‘it “cost you-to help people?. Do you never expect.to-find yourself ‘in a strange situation where " you need instructions? ~.- Tre Rb a Rem mer eee LE oe, SE ey tyne Wet tere ot 2 Sentra Tonia antent wnat bk: tiie gO NE SS HD: ts en Sar ANY CUES SE, Oe SCRUB a Laie ena a ld Ree, Og! Sa deg Gi, eka iy MORES Gham eo RS 136:E..14th’ : - 980-4568. West Vancouver pam: 104 585.16th.. 922 2021 : : | | PRESENTS i :