Or spam. Miss Manners has observed that spammers have adopted variations of “Expensive one” as a salutation, typically ratcheting it as much as “Beloved.”
They, too, appear to be decoding it as ingratiating affection, fairly than a impartial conference.
Miss Manners shouldn’t be fairly able to let go of the traditional “Expensive” salutation, and agrees with you that “Hello!” appears cheeky. However she is open to concepts if anybody can consider one thing easy and dignified.
Expensive Miss Manners: I encountered two native celebrities at separate social occasions. These persons are well-known, however not so well-known that they’d assume everybody is aware of who they’re. These have been household occasions, not associated to the work that underlies their distinguished standing in the neighborhood.
What’s the acceptable solution to point out that I knew who they have been whereas I used to be being launched to them? There was a clumsy imbalance created after I knew a lot extra about them than they knew about me.
Might you actually have stated, “I like your work?” If not, maybe a cordial, “I do know you by status.”
Or not. Miss Manners asks you to think about the chance that such an individual won’t need to act the general public determine at casual household gatherings. You may simply introduce your self the way in which you’d meet any visitor.
Expensive Miss Manners: My associate and I’ve tried to go to no less than one cultural occasion — a museum, live performance or play — every month. One factor troubles me: On the finish of practically each dwell efficiency we now have attended, the viewers members bounce to their ft and provides the performers a standing ovation.
I can perceive this when the performers are college students or amateurs, and the viewers is made up of members of the family. However now plainly a standing ovation is given for each present, irrespective of how effectively carried out.
I understood {that a} standing ovation was reserved for distinctive performances, and I’ve leaped to my ft at some excellent productions. Now, nonetheless, there appears to be a race to see who can rise up the quickest. However, one doesn’t want to be the one one retaining their seat.
Ought to one be a part of on this overwrought train, if solely to start one’s egress from the venue?
No. However you’ll not be alone, as a result of Miss Manners goes to stay seated until the efficiency is actually excellent, or she is expounded to the performers.
What you’re describing is ovation inflation, the leisure world’s equal of grade inflation in academia. Audiences have surrendered their privilege of passing judgment on skilled performances, with the candy however mistaken concept that they need to thank the performers for displaying up, whether or not or not they succeeded.
However this, in flip, robs the performers of the potential of incomes real tributes, as a substitute of robotic ones. If everyone seems to be excellent, nobody is standing out.
New Miss Manners columns are posted Monday by way of Saturday on washingtonpost.com/advice. You’ll be able to ship inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, missmanners.com. You too can observe her @RealMissManners.
