How many times have you wanted to smack the cell phone out of your texting teen or twenty-something’s hand while you are talking to them? Or while they are eating dinner with you? Is your irritation at your date’s texting his buddies during your first date reasonable? Is it ok to break up with someone by email or text message? Do you have to accept the Facebook friend request from your co-worker? The answer to these, and more – oh so many more – pressing digital manners questions are in a new book – just in time for the holidays – from New York Times Social Q’s columnist Philip Galanes – Social Q’s: How to Survive the Quirks, Quandaries and Quagmires of Today.
Despite the grammatically inapproriate apostrophe in “Social Q’s” (hey, he’s a male digital Ms. Manners, not a grammarian), this is a book that we are sure you will want to give as a gift – an, ahem, pointed gift – to many people on your holiday gift list – if you can wait that long.
Galanes has seen – or at least heard – it all. Like the young lady whose father accidentally texted her with racy messages clearly meant for the mistress he was keeping behind his wife’s back. What should she do? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
It isn’t all about digital etiquette though – Galanes tackles all sorts of real-life situations – like how to deal with people who smell bad, or grandparents whose choice of “fashion” is embarrassing for everyone involved.
It’s just that so much of “real life” now is being transacted online – even when it shouldn’t be, counsels Galanes. (No, it’s not ok to break up with someone by email or in a text message – but it is ok, he says, to foreshadow the main event with a heads-up “we need to talk” message, so that the person receiving the bad news doesn’t walk into the final meeting blind.)
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It’s a great read, with great points which will be (hopefully) well-taken by the person to whom you gift this gem.
You can get “Social Qs” on Amazon here.
The Internet Patrol is completely free, and reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP.
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Thanks for the info on this book, sounds very helpful as nearly everyone gets some part of the “social etiquette” wrong in some way..