DEAR ABBY: I work in an office with mostly women. My husband and I bought a new car a few months ago. Whenever the car comes up in conversation, a few of my co-workers don't hesitate to say what they don't like about it. After I was nice enough to give one of them a ride home one night, she said the "new car smell" gave her a headache.
I would never say anything negative about something like that, but these women seem to enjoy it. I wish I could come back with some smart remark, but they are in higher positions than I am and I don't want to create problems. They don't seem to care if they do, though.
What should I say next time? I tell myself I'll never offer a ride to them again. Let them walk. Am I being rude for thinking that? -- DRIVING MYSELF CRAZY
DEAR DRIVING YOURSELF: Your idea of not providing transportation to the complainers is a good one. My advice is, in the future, not to raise the subject of your new car -- which should reduce the number of comments you hear about it. It's not rude to think something -- but as your co-workers have demonstrated, it can be very insensitive to let everything you think pass your lips unedited.