So, I was just in the large multi-stall restroom. The lady already there was obviously having an unhappy day. I did not see her, she did not see me. She left her stall, did her washing up, then headed to the door. She paused and said, "To whomever is in here, I'm sorry for the smell, but I can't help it," and was out the door.

As I understand Miss Manners, one just ignores the inevitable biological issues related to restrooms. If the lady hadn't scurried out, was I expected to reply? I wouldn't have, in any case.

There's nothing you could really say. I guess it's nice that she tried? I guess I might say "I'm sorry,", but then, am I the American woman who apologizes all the time? Am I drawing attention to a situation she'd rather forget?

As I understand Miss Manners, one just ignores the inevitable biological issues related to restrooms.

That's my take. Everybody poops, and from time to time, everyone has gastointestinal issues that are distressing, and unfortunately, sometimes those don't happen at home.

And really, what could you say? "It's all good, bro! Everybody poops!"

If the lady hadn't scurried out, was I expected to reply? I wouldn't have, in any case.

I think the response would be, "shit happens". Also, some courtesy flushes are nice, unless in serious drought water restriction area.

And really, what could you say? "It's all good, bro! Everybody poops!"

This should totally be the standard response henceforth.

I spent ages 6-10 living in a rural county in Maine, and my father was one of 3 doctors in the county. The county had the standard rural attitudes towards hunting and guns, but my urban-raised father saw the annual shooting (at least one year, fatal) that resulted from drunk-hunting, and instilled an anti-gun mindset in me. Also a boy I knew accidentally (or maybe not? But officially, it was an accident) shot himself to death at 16.

Everybody poops. Indeed.

We are wandering around SF. JZ if we get in your area I'll give you a call. We are currently heading to the cable cars.

I refuse to be a cheerful bathroom chatterer. I'm there for business, thank you. Though some people have happy, laughing conversations between the stalls.

Hmm. So. Here at work, we are trying to get some new intercom systems for two of the theaters. The money needs to be approved by the Associate Dean, who is not a theater person, not a technical person, is just an administrator type person. Boss wants to upgrade two of the spaces, about $20,000. Dean wants to "share and reuse as much of the old as possible" and only spend $10,000. Boss isn't happy about that. So calls and tells me, "I didn't say this, but, I rather expect you will rack up some comp time this year trying to stay ahead of all the intercom problems... do you catch my drift???" ... Hm. OK. Who am I to complain?

In this part of the world, giving a teenager a rifle is fairly common

Can you please explain to a non-American the difference between giving a teenager a rifle or a gun?

As others have said, in rural areas, hunting is important. I've known people whose food budget depended on getting a deer each year. Also, since we killed off all the predators, someone has to kill the damn deer. My gardens have fed enough of them.

Fewer than 5 percent of gun deaths are from rifles. The vast majority are from handguns, which are a terrible blight on our nation. When the founders wrote the second amendment, they were thinking of the hunting rifles that colonists took into battle and in the hardships wreaked by the British in confiscating rifles necessary for hunting. They weren't thinking about vigilantes on every corner. A "well-regulated militia" would not be defending the country with Saturday night specials.