Avoiding Poet-Neighbor Best Accomplished By Moving
DEAR MISS MANNERS: An acquaintance of mine has taken to writing poetry. It's awful: full of unnecessarily obscure words, commonplace observations presented as profundities, tedious self-ruminations, etc.
I've heard enough to last me a lifetime, but whenever I encounter this individual, they announce excitedly that they've written a new poem and ask me if I'd like to hear it. Before I can respond, they pull out their smartphone and begin reciting.
This individual lives in my apartment building. Short of moving, what can I say or do?
GENTLE READER: Must you rule out moving? It strikes Miss Manners as a reasonable response to living in fear of surprise attacks of amateur poetry.
Failing that, she suggests that you plead having difficulty appreciating the recited poems -- as indeed you have -- and ask that they instead be submitted to you in writing so that you may enjoy them at your leisure.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When all bathroom stalls are in use except for the wheelchair-accessible stall, is it OK to use that one rather than waiting for another to open?
GENTLE READER: Will you be prepared to vacate the stall instantly if someone who needs it enters the bathroom? Miss Manners doubts it.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Are online congratulatory messages replacing wedding cards?
We have a large, very close family that gets together for every holiday and birthday. My 30-year-old daughter and her boyfriend (now husband) have always attended every event. The family loves them, and vice versa.
A few years ago -- after a 10-year courtship -- they got married at a private ceremony far from home. We had a local reception planned for a few weeks later and sent "save the date" cards to the whole family. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the reception due to the pandemic.
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