Why do people prefer texting over more direct communication?
To avoid people and other sorts of surprises.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• It’s the rule of thumbs.
Jim Neilan, Dunedin, New Zealand
• To avoid contradiction.
Patsy Pouvelle, Reims, France
• Our younger generation text faster than they speak. For me, sadly, I’m too slow to text.
Pat Phillips, Adelaide, South Australia
• Because it is so much easier to disappoint or hurt people when you don’t have to look them in the eyes and see their anguish.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• Digital deftness doesn’t demand dextrous debate.
Charlie Bamforth, Davis, California, US
Maybe for more than one day
Is a working-class hero still something to be?
A working-class hero is something to be. When most settle for middle-class mediocrity.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• It might be a bit of an Andy Capp.
Roger Morrell, Perth, Western Australia
• In the age of austerity and with no magic money trees, it’s the only thing some of us can be.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• We can be heroes, not just for one day.
Stewart Sweeney, Adelaide, South Australia
Please remember the pets
Which table manners are most important?
It depends what society you are in. In some it would be impolite not to eat with your fingers; in others it is polite to belch. When I was growing up it was (ridiculously) polite to leave a morsel of food uneaten to show that one had had “an excellent sufficiency”.
All “manners” should be subservient to an expressed pleasure at sharing a nutritious meal with friends or strangers.
David Turner, Bellevue Heights, South Australia
• As I was informed by my four-year-old granddaughter a few years ago, “Grandfather, don’t talk with your mouth full”.
Anthony Walter, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
• Those that prevent other diners being put off their food!
Margaret Wilkes, Perth, Western Australia
• Always throw a little tidbit to the dog under the table.
Reiner Jaakson, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
• In our house, it is considered bad manners not to read at the table.
Susan Douglas, Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada
• Make sure to polish your shoes before drinking someone under the table.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• Most important is not to be shy when reaching for the check.
John Geffroy, Las Vegas, New Mexico, US
The world needs more of it
What difference does irony make to the world?
It’s the only way to fight the global threat of irony-deficiency.
David Dickinson, Auckland, New Zealand
• Funny you should ask ...
Victor Nerenberg, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada
Any answers?
What does ‘bad weather’ mean, exactly?
Burkhard Friedrich, Berlin, Germany
Why are rats hideous, but squirrels oh-so cute?
R M Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
Send answers and more questions to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com
