Our Dear Ms. Demeanor: Making New Yorkers more polite, one manners crisis at a time
Our Ms. Demeanor column is an etiquette guide for vertical dwellers penned by BrickUnderground's very own Emily (blog) Post, Jamie Lauren Sutton.
This week's SurvivalList focuses on said advice column, for those of us New Yorkers who need a little help in the politeness category (translation: all of us).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the letters Ms. D receives revolve around neighborly nuisances -- like neighbors who chronically decorate their door, or let the dog pee in the elevator, or blast pornography or cook stinky foods. (Ms. D's form letter for misbehaving neighbors may work in several of these instances).
There are even some dicey situations involving neighbors with whom our readers are far too intimate -- like previous one-night stands, shrinks and ex-husbands.
Ms. D also advises our readers on appropriate tipping practices -- for lobby delivery, ungrateful doormen, amenity staff, formerly spoiled supers and more.
And, of course, she's dedicated plenty of ink to roommate issues, like toilet paper wars and loud sex.
Similarly, no NYC etiquette column would be complete without dissecting the rights/wrongs of dealing with bed bugs. Ms. D covers the topic both when it pertains to a babysitter with bed bugs and when you're the one with the infestation.
For these and more columns, take a look below. We hope you come out of this a more civilized New York vertical dweller as a result.
What do about the neighbor:
- Who lets their dog pee in the elevator
- Who chronically decorates their door
- Who leaves sand in the hallway
- Whom you accidentally have sex with
- Who are a little too curious you trying to sell your apt
- Whose porn is audible in your kids' room
- Whose cooking stinks
- Who stink up the gym
- Who happens to be your shrink...
- Or your ex-husband...
- Or a prostitute
- Form letter to write to annoying neighbors
What to do when you're the annoying neighbor:
- Who's curious about the neighbor's on-the-market apartment
- So curious you just might crash their open house
- Whose kid is loud
Buying & selling real estate:
Tipping:
- For lobby delivery
- Ungrateful doorman
- Amenity staff during the holidays
- Downsizing the super's tip
- Should you tip the plumber?
- What do you tip the second time the restaurant guy comes, to fix a mistake?
Guests:
- Rules for housesitters
- Buzzing up a potential burglar to be polite
- Should you tell them you have bed bugs?
Roommates:
Staff:
- When your babysitter has bed bugs
- When the super hurts your car while parking it...
- Or is two-timing your building
