Miss Manners: What should I say to a woman who has defaced herself with a tattoo?

"DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am still not inured to the rampant trend of women tattooing their hands, feet, arms, backs and even faces. I don't believe at all that I am old-fashioned, but defacing one's body will never be attractive. What am I to say to a woman What a pretty tattoo. It really enhances your dainty feet? GENTLE READER: And what sarcastic remark would you like that lady to make while critically assessing your appearance?"

"The buses and trains have seats up front that are clearly marked for seniors and people with disabilities. But they are often filled with young people who appear quite fit and healthy. They are also occupied by people with babies or children in large strollers that take up multiple seats. The bus drivers do nothing to enforce the rules, and we seniors are left trudging down the bus aisle while the people in the seats smirk, look at their phones and talk to each other."

"GENTLE READER: It was another Gentle Reader who once came up with the polite way to handle this situation. The idea is to target a passenger who is young and unencumbered; approach them, smile and say, Thank you so much for saving that seat for me. Miss Manners hates to encumber this delicious solution, but must add some caveats. First, not all disabilities are clearly visible."

Some people view the growing popularity of visible tattoos on hands, feet, arms, backs and faces as unattractive and akin to defacement. An elderly commuter reports that priority seats on buses and trains, marked for seniors and people with disabilities, are often occupied by apparently able young people and by passengers with large strollers, leaving seniors to stand. A suggested polite tactic is to smile at an unencumbered passenger and say, "Thank you so much for saving that seat for me." Caveats include invisible disabilities and practical challenges faced by parents with small children. A couple in their 30s who struggled with fertility has posted an online campaign to raise money.

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