Miss Manners on 'Pushy' Bookstore Customers

In yesterday's "Miss Manners" column (courtesy of the Washington Post), "the manager of a retail chain bookstore" asked about how to deal with customers "who want to discuss their political or religious beliefs with me or my employees" to the point of saying who to vote for and what church to attend. "I cannot just pretend to agree with them, even if I wanted to, because then I would risk offending other customers in the store who disagree."

Miss Manners responded in part: "There is no need to address any personal questions about your affiliations. Rather, Miss Manners advises you to say, 'Let me think what books might interest you. Do you prefer ones that agree with you, or are you interested in finding out what your opponents are arguing?'

"Should they persist, rather than taking up your offer, you should add, 'Well, look around. You're bound to find something that will interest you.' And then excuse yourself to tend to other customers."

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