MISS MANNERS by Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I entered the elevator in my office building with a man and a woman, both in their 20s. There was another lady coming towards the elevator, so I held the door. She ultimately took the stairs. I apologized for the delay to the two others in the elevator.

The man then said he would not have held the elevator for that lady, and the woman said the same. The man then told me I was “too nice”!

I was stunned, to say the least. I didn’t have the presence of mind to respond, and just faced the elevator door until we exited. What, if anything, would you have said?

GENTLE READER: “Oh, dear, that IS a problem nowadays -- people being too nice and showing too much consideration for others. Do please forgive

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