Social Skills Tip of the Day!

When meeting new people, look them in the closest proximation of the eye as your anxiety will allow. 

Smile as best you can approximate, without grimacing like you have to poop. 

Say their name at least three times in the conversation, so that you remember their name.  

But if you forget, there is no need to move to a new state in the dead of night.  You can say, "I am sorry, but I forgot your name.  Can you please tell it to me again?"  Most people will forgive you for not remembering their name, unless you've been married for the past thirty years.  

Social Skills Tip of the Day!

 If you are a kid, and the person speaking to you is an adult, do not speak to them using slang.  Old folks (people in their 40s and beyond) will have no recognition of your favorite catchphrases and the fancy new word for cool. To be honest, it's a miracle any of us mastered using English back them when the dinosaurs walked the earth.  Be nice to us and use plain English.  Thank you.  

Social Skills Around Angry People.

When you're minding your business, but someone is in your face, screaming(and usually spitting) that you are impinging upon their freedoms about whatever, there is only one polite thing to do.  

No, it is not "punch them right in the face".  That is the way to be arrested for assault, and that is not recommended.  

The polite thing to do is say, "Okay." 

Then walk away.  

Why do we walk away?  Can't we just kick them in the shins?  They started it!

As someone once told me, you cannot play tug-of-war unless the other person grabs the rope.  If you walk away, you deprive this angry person of their sole purpose in life, which is to argue with anyone and everyone. 

Walk away.  

If they follow you, because they want to make one more spittle-infested point about the black hole of their life, walk to someplace where there are other people.   

Walk away. 

Social Skills Tip of the Day!

If you are talking on the phone, and someone approaches and stands in front of you like they are waiting for something, that means they are waiting for YOU to hang up the phone so they can talk to you.

So hang up the dang phone! 

Social Skills Tip of the Day!

If you are a young mother, and you encounter an older mother such as myself, do not loudly make fun of my shoes. I was in a hurry and grabbed two different shoes. Real moms do that.

Social Skills Tip of the Day!

If you are staying in a hotel that serves a free breakfast, do not show up in the lobby wearing your jammies. This will horrify the other patrons, and may ruin some appetites. Especially if your pajamas of choice are boxers.

Social Skills Tip of the Day!

If your girl friend is in a bad mood, do not, under ANY circumstances, mention PMS. Just Don't.  Unless she brings it up first.