Latest news with #etiquette
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ina Garten's Strict Rule When Bringing Flowers To A Dinner Party
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Dinner parties are a timeless way to entertain, gather, and enjoy a delicious meal with people you care about. Hosting one provides a great opportunity to get creative with the type of cuisine you serve, how you set up or decorate, and even activities or conversation topics you'd like to try out. If you're a guest at a dinner party, some planning ahead should be involved as well — even when it comes to bringing a bouquet. Ina Garten, the famed host of "Barefoot Contessa" herself, says that one of the few major don'ts when it comes to showing up for an evening meal is bringing flowers without a vase. According to Garten, this small misstep can sometimes cause undue stress for the host. "Don't ever bring flowers that aren't in a vase," Garten said during an appearance on Today's "Sunday Sitdown." "You're there. You're like, everyone's arriving and then all of a sudden, you've got these flowers and you have to figure out what to do." Taking one extra step to make sure your host feels appreciated and considered ahead of time can do a world of good. Read more: 14 Dolly Parton Baking Mixes, Ranked Worst To Best There have long been a few unspoken "rules" of etiquette as it pertains to dining at someone else's home; never arrive empty-handed, for one, and try not to overstay your welcome. More specifically, Garten warns against bringing along a gift or side dish that is too niche. One particularly silly offering Garten says to leave behind is something like a Jell-O salad, or anything else you think the host would prefer to serve themselves. Instead, you can wow those welcoming you into their home with a nice bottle of wine (be sure to avoid these common wine shopping mistakes) or a flower arrangement. Even if you take the time to build a customized bouquet yourself or order a lovely arrangement from your local florist, the beauty of the flowers will likely be overshadowed by the panic your host feels once they realize they have nowhere to put them. You can make things easier on yourself and your host by keeping a variety of vase options on hand, using a set like this Beahot 22 pack of clear flower vases. Your host will appreciate the forethought, and you'll always be ready for even the most impromptu get-togethers. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Washington Post
7 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: Stranger on airplane poked passenger urging them to stand up
Dear Miss Manners: I was on a flight and sitting in the aisle seat. The middle seat and window seat were occupied by strangers. The plane had landed, and people were standing in the aisle waiting for the door to open. I remained seated, waiting for the aisle to clear. The woman in the window seat reached over and poked me, telling me to stand up. I have severe hearing loss. I wear a hearing aid and an implant. I'm not sure if she had been trying to tell me this and I hadn't heard her.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I'm an etiquette expert – here's how to recline your plane seat without causing air rage
Reclining a plane seat can lead to ferocious air rage. This makes the advice here on the etiquette around this seemingly innocent manoeuvre all the more important. It comes courtesy of Diane Gottsman, author and founder of the Protocol School of Texas, who leans into the debate around leaning back with definitive advice. She admits that she herself is not a recliner. She tells The Independent: "Personally, I don't recline my seat and I'm not uncomfortable because I am not very tall. "It does not take a great deal for me to feel comfortable." But Diane understands why many passengers need to reangle themselves and has this key "must" for them. She reveals: "I do understand wanting to be comfortable in your seat. However, when someone reclines their seat, they should at least look backwards to make sure they are not cramping someone's longer legs. "Be respectful of fellow passengers. Airplanes are generally very tight on space and it's polite to recline with courtesy." Diane suggests that to further reduce the risk of "recline rage", you could also tell the person behind: "I'm going to lean back a bit and want to let you know." But she stresses that you should "be prepared for a negative reaction and a definite eye roll". "If the space looks tight and you're on a short flight, use your best judgment," continues Diane. "If it's an overnight flight, it's certainly a different consideration, where a reclined seat is an expectation." But regardless of the length of flight or the time of day, Diane underscores that you should not recline during drink or meal service "for obvious reasons". She adds: "Remember, the seat is not your personal property and is not your living-room recliner. Just because you can recline, doesn't mean you should." Is it okay to object to someone's request to recline? "You can certainly say, if someone asks, 'I would prefer you not recline,'' says Diane. But she stresses that 'it's important to think about how the other person is going to react' and there's never a guarantee it'll be in a calm manner. For more from Diane visit
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Is It Ever OK to Touch a Stranger?
In a tense exchange on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival this week, a photographer grabbed the actor Denzel Washington's arm, apparently seeking another photo. Mr. Washington, perturbed, yanked his arm back, and then repeatedly warned the photographer to stop — a brief squabble between seeming strangers that made headlines, and raised the question: Is it ever OK to touch someone you don't know? The New York Times reached out to a handful of etiquette experts and therapists who specialize in boundary setting to ask about the rules around making physical contact with a stranger. 'Keep your hands to yourself.' Etiquette, when it comes to spontaneous touching, is nuanced — social rules vary from place to place and culture to culture. Still, the manners experts we spoke with were unanimous: 'The hard and fast rule about touching strangers is that you shouldn't,' said William Hanson, an etiquette coach in Britain and the author of 'Just Good Manners.' We ran some scenarios by him. What if you are trying to flag down a server in a restaurant? No, he said. Placing a hand on someone as you are trying to move through a crowd? Nope, he answered. Weave! Others allowed for exceptions. If, say, someone drops a wallet without noticing and doesn't hear your calls, 'you could use touch briefly,' said Juliane T. Shore, a marriage and family therapist in Austin, Texas, and the author of 'Setting Boundaries That Stick.' But don't grab or clasp the person, she said. 'Keep your hands to yourself,' echoed Elaine Swann, an author and etiquette expert in Carlsbad, Calif. 'Do not touch people without their permission unless you are trying to save them from something.' When it comes to greetings, better safe than sorry. Norms around greetings are a bit more complicated, the experts said, but in general you can't go wrong with a handshake — a classic for a reason. Stodgy? Maybe. But the gesture can still convey plenty of warmth, said Diane Gottsman, founder of the Protocol School of Texas. 'It's your smile, it's your eyes, it's your tone of voice — that's conveying the message,' she said. Extending your hand also gives people options, like a brief clasp or a fist bump. 'Some people call themselves huggers,' said Krystal Mazzola Wood, a marriage and family therapist in Phoenix and the author of 'Setting Boundaries.' 'If you are a hugger, wonderful! And you ask. You say, 'I love giving hugs, are you OK with that?'' Try your best to tune into cultural differences. For instance, in some places in the world, a cheek kiss is customary, Mr. Hanson noted. Other cultural norms can be trickier to parse. Mr. Hanson, a Brit, noted (diplomatically!) that while the United States and Britain seem to have similar social codes, the British tend to 'cherish personal space,' while Americans can be a bit more, ahem, 'relaxed' and 'tactile.' Small gestures can have big impact. If your inclination is to write off brief moments of physical contact as no big deal, consider that you never know if the person you're touching has dealt with physical trauma, Ms. Mazzola Wood cautioned. And Ms. Shore noted that dynamics related to race and gender could also come into play. 'For many centuries, people have been thought of as property and could be touched or hurt without consequence,' she said, adding that 'being grabbed by a stranger might mean something specific and rooted in violence and oppression to a Black man from America or to a woman.' Some people just aren't touchy-feely — and that's their prerogative. Still unconvinced that any of this matters all that much? Try a visualization exercise, Ms. Mazzola Wood suggested. Imagine you're in a park, sitting with your eyes closed and enjoying the warmth of a sunny day. Suddenly, you feel someone touching you on the arm. You open your eyes, and see a stranger. In that moment, many of us will feel a 'primal' and 'visceral' jolt of unease and discomfort, she said. Consider that whenever you touch strangers — even if it feels entirely harmless on your end — you may be putting them in a similar situation, she cautioned. If a stranger gets in your space, be direct, the experts urged. If there is room to do so, you might back up and say something like, 'Space, please,' Ms. Shore suggested. If you are holding a drink, you might use it to create a barrier, Mr. Hanson said, or if you are sitting down, you might lean back in your chair. Nonverbal cues are powerful, echoed Ms. Swann — though she admitted she was sometimes floored by people's seeming obliviousness. Footage of Mr. Washington's red carpet encounter showed the photographer not 'just touch him, but kind of pull on him,' she said. 'That's crazy to me!'
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Influencer sparks debate over common phone act
Ask anyone who isn't Gen Z, and they'll tell you that basic etiquette seems to be a thing of the past. People no longer pick up the phone and instead, just fire off a text, opting for convenience over a human interaction. Then, when they have to actually make a phone call, for a restaurant reservation or to inquire about an item at a shop, it's little wonder many lack the skills to converse with a stranger. A TikTok video has recently highlighted this issue and sparked debate over whether we should introduce ourselves at the beginning of a phone call or just start yapping away. The video that started it all The clip was shared by Bronte Rose, a Sydney-based influencer who describes herself as a 'chronic over-sharer' to her 103k followers. 'When I am calling a restaurant or anywhere, I say, 'Hi, my name is Bronte. I'm just wondering if you have a table for two tonight?'' she explained to her friends in the video. Her friend pushed back, asking if she'd do the same when calling somewhere like JB Hi-Fi. 'Yeah, it's just common courtesy,' Rose insisted. Her friend, clearly surprised, replied, 'Like, it's nice, you're very polite, but I think no one else does it'. 'Second nature' After the video went viral, with people in the comments fiercely divided, Rose explained to that she had no idea 'it was a strange thing to do,' as the behaviour is 'second nature' to her. 'I personally like to know who I'm talking to when I pick up the phone. Nine times out of ten, it's also very relevant information,' she said. 'It's something I have always done, and I think it was taught to me as good manners.' But does she think it's rude not to? 'I might ruffle feathers here, as I know lots of people disagree with me, but I do think it's rude,' she admits. 'The person you're ordering a pizza from is human too, and I'll always try to make every interaction a good one'. The internet weighs in 'Bronte is correct and polite,' wrote one person in the comments. Another chimed in, 'Bronte, you are 100% correct. Not enough people know how to communicate on the phone'. A call centre worker added, 'I work in a call centre and LOVE when people say their names at the start! It's just polite to let the other person know who they're talking to'. But not everyone agreed. 'Wait, I have NEVER done this,' revealed one user. 'Nah, been a receptionist for 10 years and I constantly make fun of people for saying their name … like why do I care, just tell me what you need,' another joked. Others said they just launch right into their query: 'I just say, 'Hi, how are you doing?', then proceed to ask my question'. What does an expert think? To settle the debate, spoke with Kate Heussler, a modern etiquette coach, who says the answer isn't black or white. 'Introducing yourself at the start of any call is a must,' she continues, 'especially if it's someone you haven't spoken to before or if the number is unfamiliar. 'It's like knocking on someone's door before you walk in – simple, considerate, and it sets the tone.' Heussler notes that it may even be worthwhile to do a quick intro when talking to people you know. 'If you're calling your best friend, a family member, or someone you speak to daily, diving straight into the conversation is totally fine. It's all about familiarity,' she says. 'But even then, a quick, 'Hey, it's me!' or 'me again' still adds a touch of respect and clarity'. How to introduce yourself When you do find yourself wanting to introduce yourself to a stranger over the phone, she suggests keeping it 'clear, confident and warm'. She advises: 'Lead with your name, a touch of context, and a check-in. Something like, 'Hi, it's (name) – I'm just calling to chat about (topic). Is now a good time?' It shows respect for their schedule and instantly breaks down barriers'. Other common phone call mistakes According to Heussler, other phone call missteps include skipping the check-in ('It's considerate to ask if it's a good time, especially if it's unexpected'), talking too fast or too loudly ('Slowing down just a touch makes you sound confident and clear'), and not being prepared ('Jotting down a few key points beforehand can be a game-changer').
