DEAR MISS MANNERS: I took a long cross-country flight, during which I was assigned the middle seat. The gentleman seated by the window insisted on asking me about my relationship with Jesus, showing me photos on his cellphone and trying to engage me in conversation, while I was very pointedly trying to watch a movie.

The flight was full, so moving to a different seat was not an option. I provided short, polite responses and tried to focus on my movie without encouraging further conversation, but kept getting interrupted.

What response would be best to effectively shut down conversation without offending the other person?

GENTLE READER: When you say you were very pointedly watching the movie, Miss Manners understands you to mean that, in spite of the brevity of your answers, your lack of

See Full Page