DEAR MISS MANNERS: Growing up, I was as bad a student as could be. I messed around so much, it felt like my entire childhood, I was being chased by school officials or my parents. I was lucky that both my parents were educators who exposed me to the world, but I did not graduate from high school and never read a book until adulthood.

This all flipped when I was around 20, and I wound up earning five degrees. (The first one was really tough and painful to get!) I really enjoy the new interests I've been exposed to and the things I've learned. Most of the time, my very educated friends feel so enriching to be around.

But sometimes when I go back home, old friends or acquaintances who are not as educated will call me weird for the way I talk about or see the world. It feels a little like an insult -- like I am weird for knowing there are 2 trillion galaxies. It's just odd to be chastised for knowing something.

There is something beautiful about knowledge, and it just seems so normal to me. I am sure down deep inside, they feel inadequate at times, but it feels odd for me to address this. I honestly do not know what to say when it happens.

GENTLE READER: Remember when you got that first degree and it was really tough? Miss Manners encourages you to ask yourself why.

Did everyone around you seem smarter? Were some even sanctimonious about your ignorance on certain subjects?

No doubt, you never called them weird, and therein lies the difference. But if you can be patient with your less-educated friends, the way your parents and educators were with you, it might similarly inspire them.

If all else fails and your enthusiasm is still not catching, you may innocently say, "Oh. I thought it was cool, not weird. But I guess that's subjective." And then resist defining "subjective."

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a fan of a local sports team, and I have a friend with season tickets. Any time they are unable to attend, they offer to sell me the tickets.

The problem is that they want to sell them to me at full price, when I can easily go online and purchase tickets on the secondhand market for much cheaper. This makes me feel taken advantage of.

When we come together later to talk about the game, I am uncomfortable lying and pretending like I didn't go, but I am also uncomfortable telling them that their asking price for the tickets is unreasonable. What is my best approach to this situation?

GENTLE READER: "I was able to go after all, and found tickets elsewhere. Now how about that seventh inning?"

(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: How do you politely ask a colleague to stop monopolizing meeting time?

I've recently been surprised at the cluelessness of some colleagues, who will talk ad nauseam during meetings, offering little that is new or insightful. They chime in on every issue and talk for far too long. I once clocked a colleague's monologue at 10 minutes without a break -- during a 50-minute meeting!

This seems to be a particular issue in remote meetings; I suspect that the lack of nonverbal cues in a physical space is the problem. The monopolizer ends up wasting the whole meeting with platitudes and commonalities, not actually contributing towards action items.

GENTLE READER: This is supposed to be a business meeting, not a social tea or a classroom. Miss Manners realizes that we are all colleagues these days, but who is in charge?

If that is you, then feel free to suggest -- another word that conveys more than its plain meaning -- that people keep their responses short and on-topic. If it is not, then suggest it to the person who is in charge before the meeting starts.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a neighbor in the apartment directly below mine who, during the 20 years I have lived here, has regularly complained about the various noises they hear from my apartment. Not once has X ever said anything to me that wasn't a criticism about The Noise.

Do I have a pet? Do I exercise? Is there some machinery I am running?

No, to all of these. I am sure any noise isn't from me: My apartment is fully carpeted, I remove my shoes when I come home, and I am scrupulous about playing TV and music at an appropriate level.

Still, I apologize and gently point out that in a large building such as ours, sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of a sound. But it doesn't seem to get through.

I dread running into this person. Can you suggest a reply that might better satisfy them?

GENTLE READER: After 20 years, you must know that your neighbor is oblivious to subtlety. Fortunately, you can make your point more clearly without being impolite.

"I'm so sorry there are noises bothering you," you can say. "I can't see how they could be coming from me, as my home is fully carpeted (etc.). Would it be worth checking if the noise is from an air vent or something similar? Is there anything I can do to help you locate the source?"

Miss Manners will understand if you omit the final offer in all the din.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What does one do with sprigs of mint that have been used as garnish in a beverage?

GENTLE READER: Do not put them in your hair, however great the temptation or strong the drink. If they cannot be left in place without trying to cling to your nose as you drink, Miss Manners suggests putting them on any available china or asking anyone with an interest in keeping the tablecloth clean for someplace to do so.

(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: When we go to the movie theater, my wife and I like to stay seated through the credits, reading them and reflecting on what we've seen. This puts us in a small minority.

When we followed this practice today, the group next to us wanted to leave. The seats to their left were empty, giving them a clear path to the aisle, but they decided to come past us instead.

"Go the other way; it's clear, and we're trying to read the credits," my wife said.

"Yes, but the aisle is closer on your side," they said as they insisted on blocking our view as they came past us.

"I guess it's all about you," my wife retorted.

Two questions. First, was their behavior impolite, or does our lingering in our seats improperly inconvenience others? Second, if they were indeed impolite, was my wife allowed to rebuke them?

GENTLE READER: As everyone in this story seems to have an idea about how everyone else should behave, you will forgive Miss Manners for solving the problem rather than assigning blame or justifying rudeness.

It is perfectly polite to stay for the credits; it is also perfectly polite to go home. It is not polite to block someone's exit, nor is it polite to block someone's view. It should go without saying that every word that you quoted above was, without exception, impolite.

There were two equally polite options available: 1. The group goes out the other way. 2. The group goes your way, but apologizes and moves quickly -- which you facilitate by moving out of their way.

Notice that either would have resulted in your seeing more of the credits than what happened.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As I was dropping my two toddlers off at school this morning, I noticed another parent with what appeared to be red play dough or some other squishy substance smashed onto the back of his shirt.

I do not know this parent, and I did not know whether to alert him to the state of his shirt. He may have been aware already, or he could have been having a rough morning and would not have been receptive to my notification. Or he could have swung home to change his shirt before he headed to his next stop.

As a mom of two young boys, I know that I have walked around unaware of food or some other substance my kids' sticky little hands placed on my clothing. On some of those days, I would have appreciated someone telling me, but on other days, I think I would (internally) respond with total annoyance (but a pleasant head nod outwardly).

What does Miss Manners recommend when I face this situation again in the future?

GENTLE READER: You are annoyed when a stranger tries to save you future embarrassment? Miss Manners supposes it is your own business -- if it is truly not apparent on your face.

Telling the other parent before he makes his presentation to the board of trustees is a kindness. Doing so is not mandatory, however, which is all the more reason not to discourage it when you are the stickee.

(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.)