As promised, we're starting Miss Manners. This weeks question comes from page 68....the question posed to Miss Manners was this:
Q: I have a nephew who is delightful and has charming manners. however, he has regrettably become enamored of a young woman beneath his station. The young woman (I cannot call her "lady") delights in recording offensive but humorous (in her mind) messages on my dear nephew's telephone answering device. How can I convey to my nephew the shock I feel upon hearing these culgarisms without sending him straight to the woman's defense - and her arms?
A: You are indeed correct that any attempt to drive your nephew away from his friend would have the opposite effect. Why do you not, therefore, reverse directions? Naturally, if you criticized her, he would defend her. What you must do is to say what a lovely person she is, and suggest that he offer to help her with her unfortunate taste lapses. If that doesn't do it, nothing will.
2007 A: Oh Gentle Reader, why are you so concerned with what your dear nephew is doing? And, why are you listening to his telephone answering device? Would that be on his cell phone or his land line? In either case, today's kids are doing far worse than leaving vulgar messages on each other's voice mail; just look at Britney Spears and her panty-less escapades. Be happy this is all you know about your nephew's extra-curricular activities.
My advice is this: spend less time worrying about Johnny and his girlfriend and a little more time playing Bridge with the girls. Oh, and keep living under that rock, okay?
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