DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have different opinions about TV watching when we have guests. I was always taught that unless guests were specifically invited to watch something on TV, it is impolite to have it on. Having the TV on in the background is a distraction to the visit. What do you think? -- TURNED OFF IN SALINAS, CALIF.
DEAR TURNED OFF: It's rude to turn a television set on in the presence of guests because it sends the message that their company is boring. If a set is on when guests arrive and the host switches it off, it conveys that the guest's company is more important than anything that's being aired. And that's an unspoken compliment that also sends a message.