My father, who has given me many little jewels of wisdom over the years, told me this one while he was teaching me how to drive: Always, if the situation calls for it, let someone in to the line, if you are stopped and they are waiting to turn into your line of cars. It takes a few seconds out of your life to allow someone to cut in front of you, but it means the world of difference in their day if they drive on feeling great about your kindness, as opposed to being angry that you did not let them in!" I live by it and it works! Not only do I feel better about letting them in, but by the smile and wave from them, I know I have changed their life, at least at that moment!

I feel Henry's approach is a little passive aggressive, isn't it just better to be straight forward rather than a twisted back door approach?

As a child, when I complained to my dad about having my manners corrected all the time, he told me that the point of having manners is to make everyone as comfortable as possible but that it's a language we have to learn. Having good manners brings structure and a common language to any social situation and boils down to being considerate.

The Goops were in old children's books too. thegoops.com

Do 'Thank You' emails count instead of 'Thank You' notes? How to navigate e-manners?

I agree with Steve - this sure sounds like passive aggressive behavior to me! Either say what you mean or ignore it! No more mind games!

@KerriMPR I was taught to look people in the eye when speaking to them but sometimes people think I am flirting with them.

@KerriMPR Our neighbor (who invites himself over for dinner) always talks while chewing. We say "We're happy to wait until you're done!"

At work, I've notice people removing their cell phone from their pocket and glancing at it mid conversation. I wish I had something witty so say when they do that.

The best advice I got was from my grandfather, an italian, who I always remember as a gentleman. He told me: "Don't do to others what you don't like they do to you". It's a very simple matter of respect.

What I find annoying is when callers to your show begin by saying, “Thank you for taking my call.” Partly because of the repetitiveness, but mostly because it takes valuable time away from the program. But as host, do you appreciate it?

I work in customer service. As part of my upbringing, and many years of serving the public, I greet every person that approaches me. Most people ignore the simple "hello." I tend to ask a direct question afterwards, like, "How are you today?" Many still do not respond. How does one bring to the knowledge of a stranger that someone is being polite to them, please be polite in return?

I recently moved away from Minnesota and spend a lot of time with a close friend from Mississippi. Both of us are constantly horrified by the lack of manners people display and the non-responses we get when we do things like thank people or greet others. I can testify that Minnesota niceness and Southern gentility are both alive and well - though they aren't always received well by people who might not have been taught to always treat others politely, strangers and friends alike.

Cell phone comeback. Are you on the list for a new kidney?

My Mother always taught us that Please and Thank You make you welcome where every go. To this I am always annoyed when my child holds the door while leaving a store and people walk out with out thanking them. So I loudly thank my child for holding the door for a prefect stranger.

@KerriMPR a girl at work asked me if another girl was pregnant. I said I think so but I didn't know.She asked her how far along.She wasn't.

@KerriMPR in my 40 yrs living in MN, I've never heard 'excuse me' when someone walks in front of me at groc store, etc. Poor form!

@KerriMPR from Mom: give a sincere compliment to someone -- sets a positive tone

When I was dating, I would pay attention to how my date treated the waitress or waiter. It said a lot!

clsc429 - I always say 'excuse me'. If I see someone about to exhibit that "poor form", I lean in closer to what I'm looking for, cutting off their line of travel. Then they either say 'excuse me', or just walk behind me where there's plenty of room.

I wait tables and four different tables this summer asked me if I was pregnant. I was not. All of them were truly coming from a friendly place, no malice intended, but, annoying! The part that I didn't get was that after I told them that I wasn't pregnant then I had to make them feel comfortable because now they didn't really feel comfortable. Ugh! I am busy! I work at a nice restaurant! My belly is big! And now I have to be extra nice to you to make sure you know it's all good. Don't write a check you can't cash . . .