DEAR MISS MANNERS: All I see on social media lately are photos of awesomeness: beautiful meals, precocious kids, exciting outdoorsy vacations with ecstatic partners. It depresses me. Though I’m very fortunate in a lot of ways, I’m lonely. I live alone and haven’t socialized in person since March. Many more people, of course, are in much more dire situations than I am. So showing off strikes me as insensitive.

Yes, I know I should get off social media, but I get neighborhood news that way, plus I want to know if anyone I care about needs help or someone to talk to -- that’s happened a few times during the pandemic.

I think it’s tacky to post nonstop photos of perfect-adorable-awesomeness during a pandemic. Do you agree, or do you think I’m just bitter and jealous?

GENTLE READER: When you were a tad, did your parents explain to you that advertisements should not be taken as literal truth? And have you not discovered that much of what people post are advertisements for themselves?

But suppose it is all true, and many people are thriving in these times -- leading glorious lives despite the pandemic. Do you really wish your friends ill instead?

Miss Manners has never understood why misery should want company. Surely misery should prefer a bit of cheer to lighten its gloom?

In any case, it will never lighten if you keep comparing yourself to others, because you can always find someone who is richer, better looking, smarter, or eating better meals. Please stop thinking of it as a contest.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: This year has been a time of exceptional hardship for many families across the globe. However, 2020 has been a great year for me. After years of being a single parent, I’ve met an incredible partner. We recently bought a home and are blending our families.

How does one tactfully share good news while being mindful about the hardships that others are facing this year? I don’t want to come across as insensitive.

GENTLE READER: The same way that you should be announcing this under normal circumstances: without crowing, and certainly without making comparisons.

Miss Manners advises something more like, “Garth and I have bought a house, where we will be moving with the children,” than “Wow, we’re so lucky! In these terrible times, we found a wonderful house and are starting our new family life together.”

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I wrote my grandmother a letter, but wasn’t sure how to address it. I have always called her “Gigi,” and started the letter as such, but I wasn’t sure what to put on the envelope. I ended up just writing her full name out, but it seems wrong.

Should I do “Mrs. Full Name”? For reference, my grandfather died last year and their letters usually had a return address of “Mr. & Mrs. Grandfather’s Name.”

GENTLE READER: That you wrote your grandmother an actual letter, instead of texting her, shows that you are sensitive to varying conventions and expectations.

So while your grandmother doubtlessly treasured your letter, Miss Manners is glad you asked. Honorifics should be used on envelopes, and widowhood does not change the lady’s form of address. If your grandmother had previously been addressed as “Ms. Hilda Newberry,” that would still be right. But as she used “Mrs. Orville Newberry,” that is still the way to address her.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: About a year ago, we bought a home on a quiet cul-de-sac in a nice neighborhood. We noticed that the next-door neighbor’s backyard had a concrete half basketball court, but every time we came to the house for showings, inspections, etc., no one was ever playing basketball.

We figured it wouldn’t be a problem. That was our first mistake.

Our neighbor’s five kids and their friends use this court on a daily basis, from sunup to sundown, each on their own practice schedule. Recently, they started a nightly basketball camp where dozens of kids come to play. Inside our home, with windows and doors closed, we hear the bang of the balls being bounced and hit against the backboard, along with occasional yelling and music.

Upon moving in, we were welcomed to the neighborhood by these neighbors, and they told us to PLEASE let them know if the noise level was ever a problem. When the music level became too loud, we kindly asked them to turn it down, and they complied. A second time, they responded that due to the nature of their backyard, there will be extra noise here and there, and that is part of living in a neighborhood.

Short of moving away, how can we escape all this noise without making enemies with our next-door neighbors?

GENTLE READER: A friendly game with friends is one thing. A full-on camp is quite another. Especially at night.

Miss Manners suggests that you find a tactful way of questioning its legality. “I am so glad that the kids are able to play together, but I am afraid that the thump of basketball night camp is keeping us awake. And I worry that the block association is really OK with you running it out of your home. Perhaps you can set it for only daytime hours so that it’s not quite so noticeable?”

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it polite to correct people who say “real-a-tor” instead of “realtor,” or “nu-cu-lar” instead of “nuclear”? Or is it totally inappropriate?

I am not perfect, but these bother me.

GENTLE READER: Are any of these people in charge of nuclear codes?

Pronouncing the words accurately oneself is the only polite way Miss Manners recommends to correct someone who is not your child, student or direct report, or who is not about to look like a fool in public.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My wife’s friend came over to borrow a book. My wife warned her in advance that our two grandchildren would be here. The friend showed up just before lunch. The ladies chatted for a while, but then my wife had to excuse herself and start making lunch for the kids.

After lunch, she went outside with the kids and organized a slip-and-slide. The friend sat on our porch through all of that, finally leaving after two hours.

What would have been an appropriate way to end the visit in less time?

GENTLE READER: “I’m so sorry, but I am afraid that this isn’t a good time for a visit. I promised my grandchildren my undivided attention this afternoon. But I will be sure to reach out to you in the next few weeks to see what you thought of ‘Cold Comfort Farm.’”

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As a female, is it inappropriate for me to give gifts of flowers to other females, or to males? What about potted plants, on occasions when I go over to someone’s house? Could I give a potted plant to a male as a gift, and should I casually mention that I won’t hold it against him if the plant doesn’t survive?

Do the same rules apply when giving flowers to little children? I think it would be nice to surprise a little girl with a cute bouquet for her birthday, or present a little boy or girl with a “botany project.”

Are there any colors/species that are totally inappropriate to give in any of these cases -- like, say, red roses for somebody else’s husband?

GENTLE READER: You caught Miss Manners. Up until that last point, she was going to admonish you for gendering the issue. Flowers are for everyone.

Flowers were once considered to convey coded language, and there is still some symbolism in a few of them (white lilies, for example, are generally associated with funerals), but a mixed bouquet can usually get around even that.

However, the floral industry and reality dating shows have indeed discouraged anyone from giving red roses to those who are not viable romantic interests. That would presumably include other people’s husbands. Fortunately, by your own assertion, they would not be able to take care of the flowers anyway.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Lately I have seen able-bodied people kick the automatic door button with their foot as they go into a shop. This is disgusting, as people with special needs use this button with their hands to enter establishments.

What is a nice way of telling these people that what they are doing is not fair to the people who actually need to use these buttons?

GENTLE READER: “I find that pushing the button with my elbow is more effective in making sure that I don’t spread or acquire germs.”

Alternatively, Miss Manners recommends that you take out some disinfectant and start spraying. In the current climate, it would hardly be considered rude or even noteworthy.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When sending a letter or email to someone with a hyphenated last name, what is the proper way to address the recipient? Do I use the fully hyphenated name, such as Mrs. Jones-Smith? Or just the first part (Mrs. Jones) or the last (Mrs. Smith)?

What if you are addressing the letter to a married couple? Would it be Mr. Smith and Mrs. Jones-Smith, or just Mr. & Mrs. Smith?

GENTLE READER: The full hyphenated name should be used, with separate lines for each if the married couple’s names are different.

However, the owners of hyphenated names should be tolerant when it comes to mixing up the order or leaving out parts. Miss Manners suggests a compromise: that those with complicated names not complain if someone gets it wrong -- in return for not being teased about how many extra names their children will have to juggle when they one day marry another hyphenated name.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)