DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am curious to find out what would be the most acceptable and polite answer in this situation: A man (stranger) feels that a woman's dress is indecent and comes up to this woman inside a venue to tell her directly that she needs a change of clothes because she's not appropriately dressed for the event.
Since they haven't met before, how should she respond to such a brash and confrontational statement?
GENTLE READER: If you intend to be the critic in this situation, Miss Manners can assure you that the response will not be one of gratitude or contrition. It may even require a towel if the lady in question is holding a full glass. She urges you to rethink your plans.
If you are, instead, what can reasonably be termed the victim, she asks only for restraint -- while acknowledging that the behavior is a gross insult, which does not require a nuanced response. After a cold "Thank you for your opinion," the lady should walk away. What a woman who is not a lady might do, Miss Manners does not know.