Dear Mary

29 November 2008

Your problems solved

Q. The art and engineering expertise of the modern corsetière has brought great
happiness to men of a more traditional, and red-blooded, disposition. To what extent should one be permitted to address admiring glances at a well-presented embonpoint: in other words, at what stage does healthily lustful and artistic appreciation become a leer? And does the rule change according to the age of the owner of the chest concerned?
R.A.P., St Saviour, Guernsey

A. It is incorrect to leer directly at an embonpoint of any vintage — even when
blatantly display-mounted on the chest of its owner. You should admire it silently from a distance or in a mirror. If you must compliment someone on their looks, you should always compliment on their general appearance. It is risky to highlight specific
features — hair, face, slimness etc. — as the insecure then wonder what you think about the areas you failed to mention. Moreover it is always dehumanising to single out any one section of the body for praise. By so doing you reduce that section to the status of a butcher’s cut.

Q. Having recently been summoned (via group email) to the RSA for a talk and reception introducing a new TV series, I now find myself in a social dilemma: the party was fun, I saw some old friends, and now subsequently want to ask one or two of them to a party at my house. Trouble is I haven’t necessarily got their full addresses or phone numbers. As I am too mean to use Directory Enquiries, the easy option would be for me to get in touch with them via email. Is it acceptable in the age of electronic mail to tap into this cc list of addresses and help myself to their contact details? My question is this: should one be given someone’s contact details by the person themselves, or is it OK to ‘steal’ them from a group email list?
N.G., Oxford

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Fiona

January 10th, 2009 6:36am Report this comment

Dear Mary,
SS makes an most ethnic point of view. When one becomes a Doctor and takes an oath of allegiance to one's profession, one is always a Doctor as the professional service extends 24/7 every week of the year.

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