DEAR MISS MANNERS: At our condo’s recent annual meeting at a nearby clubhouse, one of the members ordered dinner for her daughter and herself. They ate while the other 25 or so members took care of business.
She explained that she and her daughter did not have time to eat beforehand because they were at a spa all day. I did not think much of her etiquette. What do you think?
GENTLE READER: Not herself a fan of conducting business with one’s mouth full at all, Miss Manners agrees that two people eating while everyone else abstains is even more disagreeable. This is easily solved by removing the temptation: Clubhouses can provide rooms without immediate access to food, and the club staff can be asked to tell the hungry that there is food available downstairs.
(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.)