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I was reading slate when I came over these babies.
I like the way they were mad fun of.
Are there really so many idiots out there?
I like the way they were mad fun of.
Are there really so many idiots out there?
Dear Prudie,
My husband's brother and his family graciously hosted us for a few days when we flew across country for a visit. Although they live in a large home with a cupboard full of plates and employ a full-time housekeeper, they used disposable plates the entire time we stayed with them. It was pretty clear that they typically use disposable plates all the time. When we sat down for a Mother's Day dinner, they even served the dinner on heavy-duty disposable plates and bragged about how they felt "almost" like real plates. I am not the world's biggest environmentalist, but I do care about protecting our Earth's limited resources for the sake of the next generation. Since we're sure to stay with them again in the future, is there any polite way to ask them whether they've considered the larger consequences of their choice to use disposables?
—Hate To Throw It All Away
Dear Hate,
Yes, it's discouraging to see needless waste; what's also discouraging is for houseguests to critique your hospitality. Here's about the only thing you can do: When mealtime comes around, suggest that if they want to save some of their paper plates, you'd be happy to volunteer for dishwashing duty. If they decline, paper it is. I note that to get to your in-laws' for a visit, you flew across the country, thus spewing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and that you plan to do it again. Lecture them on how they're destroying things for the next generation and they may suggest you do your part and stay home.
—Prudie
My husband's brother and his family graciously hosted us for a few days when we flew across country for a visit. Although they live in a large home with a cupboard full of plates and employ a full-time housekeeper, they used disposable plates the entire time we stayed with them. It was pretty clear that they typically use disposable plates all the time. When we sat down for a Mother's Day dinner, they even served the dinner on heavy-duty disposable plates and bragged about how they felt "almost" like real plates. I am not the world's biggest environmentalist, but I do care about protecting our Earth's limited resources for the sake of the next generation. Since we're sure to stay with them again in the future, is there any polite way to ask them whether they've considered the larger consequences of their choice to use disposables?
—Hate To Throw It All Away
Dear Hate,
Yes, it's discouraging to see needless waste; what's also discouraging is for houseguests to critique your hospitality. Here's about the only thing you can do: When mealtime comes around, suggest that if they want to save some of their paper plates, you'd be happy to volunteer for dishwashing duty. If they decline, paper it is. I note that to get to your in-laws' for a visit, you flew across the country, thus spewing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and that you plan to do it again. Lecture them on how they're destroying things for the next generation and they may suggest you do your part and stay home.
—Prudie
Dear Prudie,
My daughter is 5 years old and has, like most girls her age, a hamper's worth of stuffed animals. While she has her favorites, she constantly wants more and usually connives to get someone (read: her grandparents) into procuring a new one every couple of weeks. The new one immediately becomes her favorite and she must sleep with it every night and haul it around half the day. My question is: Does this behavior indicate she'll be overly promiscuous as an adult, or at least unable to commit to a single partner?
—Perhaps Overly Worried Father
Dear Perhaps,
Of course that's what it indicates. You'd better start thinking now about what you're going to do when she's a young woman and throws over that big, chubby guy with the annoying laugh, Barney, for the sexually ambiguous Tinky-Winky, whom she then dumps for that moron, Elmo, who every time they come over asks you to get down on the floor and tickle him.
—Prudie
My daughter is 5 years old and has, like most girls her age, a hamper's worth of stuffed animals. While she has her favorites, she constantly wants more and usually connives to get someone (read: her grandparents) into procuring a new one every couple of weeks. The new one immediately becomes her favorite and she must sleep with it every night and haul it around half the day. My question is: Does this behavior indicate she'll be overly promiscuous as an adult, or at least unable to commit to a single partner?
—Perhaps Overly Worried Father
Dear Perhaps,
Of course that's what it indicates. You'd better start thinking now about what you're going to do when she's a young woman and throws over that big, chubby guy with the annoying laugh, Barney, for the sexually ambiguous Tinky-Winky, whom she then dumps for that moron, Elmo, who every time they come over asks you to get down on the floor and tickle him.
—Prudie
Dilbert
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