DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live in a friendly neighborhood that I enjoy. However, I have been surprised a few times by neighbors who have knocked on my door, asked to come in, and then asked for a tour of my home.
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These are people I’ve seen at neighborhood meetings, not people with whom I socialize -- due to the gossipy behavior that I’ve observed, which isn’t my cup of tea. Do you have any responses I can use to avoid their requests to come in, and their further requests to be given a tour?
GENTLE READER: The answer -- to be delivered while standing in the doorway -- is, “I’m sorry, now isn’t a good time,” accompanied by nervous glances over your shoulder.
The glances are meant to convey the idea that something unspecified is going to go terribly wrong if you do not extricate yourself from this conversation quickly. If the neighbor persists, repeat that this is not a good time and ask if they have a card so you can contact them. Miss Manners is aware that most people do not carry personal cards any more, but as you do not want the information anyway, this should not be an impediment.
(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.)