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1500 questions
19
votes
9 answers
How can I tell a friend they need to help with what they promised because what they promised can't wait?
Situation
My boyfriend, John, has a female cat. He's had her for a long time. He also happens to have a friend, Lily, who loves cats.
Over time, Lily went from being a cat lover to being a cat activist, adopting stray cats, neutering/spaying…
Tycho's Nose
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19
votes
6 answers
Dealing with a wait-and-see situation when you have a time constraint
Short Version:
I have a budding friendship with a coworker, but recently said something incredibly stupid that has left them feeling justifiably hurt. While I think it would be best to give them time, I am about to go on extended work leave and…
fool_of_all_fools
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19
votes
7 answers
How to respond to someone when they ask "How come you're still single?"
I've been asked this question several times this year, mainly from family members but also from long-term friends. I don't feel uncomfortable being asked but I also don't feel comfortable with where the conversation goes, at the minute I've just…
Bradley Wilson
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19
votes
3 answers
How can I politely ask someone to blow their nose in public?
From time to time there are cases when I would really like someone (a friend/acquaintance of mine) to blow their nose, whether it be because they're constantly sniffling, or that I can see snot in their nose. Neither of those are nice things, so I…
Crafter0800
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19
votes
5 answers
How can I call attention to a casual acquaintance's mispronunciation?
How can I call attention to a casual acquaintance's mispronunciation? The individual is a native speaker, yet regularly misuses words like "antidote," when meaning "anecdote," as just one example.
If the meaning of their conversation is still…
r m
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19
votes
6 answers
How can I politely tell my friends I can't afford to order takeout?
Me and my boyfriend have two friends (a couple), whom we hang out once a week. The guy will usually pick his girlfriend up from work and then come over to our place to hang out until after midnight. Because the girl is understandably hungry after…
Tycho's Nose
- 7,506
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- 29
- 64
19
votes
5 answers
When should I offer my seat on public transport?
In the United Kingdom, when is it appropriate to offer your seat to someone on a train or bus? Okay, if someone is in distress by standing through disability or otherwise it seems clear enough. However, I am of a generation that manners dictated…
r m
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- 15
- 63
19
votes
9 answers
Is there a general rule for when/how to compliment a stranger?
The title pretty much says it all, I know there are cases where giving compliments to strangers makes them uncomfortable (for example, catcalling), but as I understand it there is a separate set of compliments one can give that are much more likely…
DaaaahWhoosh
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19
votes
4 answers
Disclosing medical condition on relationship start
I'm 30, male, been with an IBD somewhere in between UC and Chrons since I was a teenager, during the past 10 years I've had several big operations and many small ones.
I've had an ileostomy (I'm male, picture for demonstration) in the past, between…
InterP
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19
votes
2 answers
Does Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" actually help us find people more interesting?
I'd bought Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People at a used book store years ago and later read it. The message I took away from it was that if we lead people to believe that we find them interesting, then we can get them to behave…
uhoh
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19
votes
2 answers
How do I support a friend on Social Media who contacted me directly about something I don't want to be involved in?
This has to do with the events going on regarding racism and discrimination. A good friend of mine is black. He recently posted something on social media saying "if you say 'all lives matter' please unfriend me". He messaged me sending me a picture…
user29833
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19
votes
1 answer
How to respond to challenges about using the women's restroom as a trans woman
I'm a transgender woman, and I'm getting to the point in my transition where I'm starting to use the women's restroom. However, given the recent climate around transgender people using the appropriate restroom, I am feeling concerned about being…
Tesset
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19
votes
2 answers
How can I communicate to my mother that her complaints about me make me feel like I'm not enough?
(and never will be)
I'm on the autism spectrum and often feel overwhelmingly fatigued and tired. My mother, on the other hand, has a lot of energy and is always doing a million things.
From time to time, my mother will complain that:
You never do…
Ael
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19
votes
10 answers
How do I tell or convince a friend that he should do an autism test?
I know a person "Bob" and his family very well. He had problems in his apprenticeship. I know another person that has the Asperger Syndrome and my friend Bob shows a lot of similarities. I don't want to offend Bob but I think it would help him a lot…
Fabian Wüthrich
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19
votes
2 answers
How to stop people from assuming I am female on the telephone?
Despite being male (both genetically and self-identified), I sound like, as a friend once stated, "an 8 year old girl". My voice is very high pitched and child-like due to brain cancer.
This is usually not a problem in person: I have a giant beard…
GVT
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