Miss Manners: She took me to an expensive restaurant and committed a crime

DEAR MISS MANNERS I have a friend I have known for over years and consider my best friend Related Articles Miss Manners I gave the teen money and now I m in an awkward situation Miss Manners The marriage proposal you saw on TikTok was bogus Miss Manners Is it really that weird to ask the server to pick my meal for me Miss Manners The last straw with this woman was a dispute in my own kitchen Miss Manners I opened the office door and only then realized it was an unwanted visitor She treated me to dinner at a very expensive restaurant and as we were leaving she smiled and evidenced me that she had put a butter knife in her purse I was shocked and dismayed and it must have shown on my face I revealed Really You would really do that She explained me that the restaurant had made plenty of money on the meal Should I have stated or done more I m still disappointed that my friend would be dishonest and show such a lack of class If it ever happens again what should I do GENTLE READER Whether you should have done more is a question for the Morals Department not the Etiquette Department But why Miss Manners wonders are you anticipating going on another heist with this person There is no reason to respond to future invitations as there would be no point in trying to give a lengthy explanation to such an individual as to why you do not wish to be an Accessory to the Theft of Accessories either before or after the fact DEAR MISS MANNERS After well over a year of enduring political campaigning we are quite fatigued from it all The results were quite disappointing to us Then our dear neighbor broadcasted they are mounting a campaign to run for a state district office and requested our substantial financial and fundraising encouragement While understanding the need for a yearslong strategic process to achieve this goal we have concerns Physically and financially we are not in a place to participate But even if we were able we do not feel this individual has the skill knowledge or ability to adequately represent our district In fact they have never run for much less been elected to any office at any time There also exist aspects of their past which would become political fodder in the hands of any opponent s negative campaign This is an individual we socialize with frequently How do we politely communicate to such a strong-willed but unskilled individual that we and various others feel they are merely not right for the job When the announcement was made we seriously thought they were joking due to the perceived inability to attain much less perform in such an pivotal regime maximum Related Articles Dear Abby My husband texted his ex and talked to a divorce lawyer Should I be concerned Asking Eric She thinks the bear in her yard means she s particular kind of saint Harriette Cole How can I get my roommate to turn on the air conditioning Miss Manners I gave the teen money and now I m in an awkward situation Dear Abby They ask about the ring my husband gave me and I don t know what to say GENTLE READER Gentle readers often ask Miss Manners how to respond to questions put to them for which there does not appear to be any polite answer But you were not demanded the question you wish to answer namely how to tell the person they are unqualified You were required if you would aid them for state office The answer to that question is that you wish them well but you are too fatigued after enduring a year of political campaigning Assuming you are not a political consultant by profession that is a question you are fully qualified to answer Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website www missmanners com to her email gentlereader missmanners com or through postal mail to Miss Manners Andrews McMeel Syndication Walnut St Kansas City MO