This could be with anything embarrasing toilet paper stuck to your leg, your skirt bunched up in the back so you underwear is showing.... why do people not tell you when you have something embarrasing like that...why do they let you keep going through humiliation?
2007-04-19 08:20:26 · 13 answers · asked by Lindsey G 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
According to proper etiquette, it is bad manners to "notice" that someone has something in their teeth or their skirt is hiked up or toilet paper on their shoe, and to point it out. This is to save the other person the humiliation of you actually seeing and pointing to what is wrong. Your supposed to act as if you don't really think there is anything wrong or you noticed anything saving the other person humiliation. However we all know this doesn't always save us from feeling totally silly.
However it is good manners to refer to it indirectly such as:
Maybe you'd like to check your lipstick, I'm not sure but there seems to be something there.
or
what an interesting cut your skirt has.
or
I not sure but I think there might be something under your shoe.
I personally think, If you are very friendly with the person, you can very discreetly tell them what the problem is, so no one else can hear it.
2007-04-19 09:02:10 · answer #1 · answered by Leal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Typically, its because they don't want to be the ones that embarrasses the person. They'd rather it just go away.
In my opinion, I think it's best to tell people things like that. But usually, you do it tactfully by taking the person aside without others able to see or hear and letting them know, and then dropping the subject.
2007-04-19 08:44:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Half the time, I'm not that observant so I don't even notice that someone has something stuck in their teeth.
But, if I do notice something and I don't tell someone it is because of my relationship with that person. I have no problem telling my boyfriend he has junk in his teeth, but if it's my boss or something, I am not going to cross that line...
2007-04-19 08:28:01 · answer #3 · answered by Confid321 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good question -- i have no idea. i think it's doing the person a HUGE favor to tell them, so i try to as much as i can. however, if the person greets me with a huge grin and lots of excitement, and the first thing i say is, "you have broccoli in your teeth," that might kill the energy.. but other than that, it's okay to just be like, "hey, you got a little something there..."
2007-04-19 13:39:06 · answer #4 · answered by M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I told someone they had something stuck on their teeth once and they took it offensively. That could be why people dont tell them because of that reaction? I honestly couldnt tell you.
2007-04-19 08:38:47 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel_Walton 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I don't want to see them embarrased, so I would rather somebody else tell them or they figure it out on their own.
2007-04-19 08:24:51 · answer #6 · answered by sobay310 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I tactfully tell them, but if we're in a crowd I don't just pipe up and say, "Whoa, did you just have asparagus?" You tell someone quietly and in confidence.
2007-04-19 08:29:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What? Blow the joke for others? That'd just be downright mean!
Later Daze!, =D
2007-04-19 08:31:01 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i ALWAYS tell the person. unfortunately some people want me to keep quiet so they can poke fun.
sometimes people dont tell me, and thats why i keep a mirror handy
2007-04-19 08:41:17 · answer #9 · answered by Jahpson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they will feel embarrassed but u probably should tell them if they don't notice it shortly after you notice it.
2007-04-19 08:34:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋