Margarette Coleman

Dear Margar-etiquette, Everywhere I go, people seem angry. Customers are frustrated with businesses, businesses seem stretched thin, and interactions that used to be routine now feel tense. With prices rising and customer service often feeling impersonal, many people feel like they don’t matter anymore. As an average American, is there anything I can do to make a difference? Concerned Consumer Dear Concerned, I think you’ve put your finger on something many people feel but struggle to articulate.

Dear Margar-etiquette, I travel fairly often, and I’m always surprised by how rude people can become at the airport—especially going through TSA. I understand people are stressed, but is there etiquette around dealing with airport employees and security staff? Frequent Flyer Dear Flyer, Airports may be one of the greatest modern tests of everyday manners.

Dear Margar-etiquette, Why do otherwise polite people become so dismissive toward cashiers, servers, and customer service workers? I regularly watch people ignore greetings, bark orders, and act irritated before an interaction even begins. Have we forgotten there’s an actual human being standing there?