Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate how the age-old rules of civility apply to a social dilemma caused by new technology. Please send your questions or comments to digitalmanners@slate.com.
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you tell your sister-in-law, a middle school teacher, that her tweeting is inappropriate?
7 Min
May 20, 2012
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should a gym patron ask management to enforce its cell-free locker room policy?
6 Min
May 13, 2012
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Does opting out of any and all social networks make you seem "suspicious"?
7 Min
May 6, 2012
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it rude to pop in your earbuds when catching a ride to work with someone?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you confront a Facebook friend who shares the links you post but doesn’t acknowledge where she found them?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: What should you do when you receive unsolicited messages of a sexual nature on your cell phone?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it appropriate to follow your psychiatrist on Twitter or Facebook. How about friending a family member’s shrink?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you confront a Facebook friend who seems to be mocking your posts with her own sarcastic status updates?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you let a colleague borrow your earbuds even though you’re grossed out by it? Plus, other work etiquette dilemmas.
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should employers commandeer your social network to promote their products?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should parents always come to the door when picking up their kids from a playmate’s house? A father laments that texts have taken the place of face-
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you tell a cheater’s significant other about his extracurricular activities via Facebook?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it necessary to “de-friend” someone who is leaving your family due to divorce?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it socially acceptable to take out your cell phone and snap photos of a wedding ceremony in progress, then post the shots to Facebook before the in
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: What should you do when your Internet dates repeatedly text lame excuses to cancel?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you correct the bad facts and blatant lies that friends post to their Facebook pages?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Are couples obligated to interact via social media, or is face-to-face contact more than enough?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it rude for the babysitter to save TV shows on your digital video recorder without asking first?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: When you’re hanging out with pals, but other friends aren’t invited, is it rude to post the details to Facebook?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: What do you do when a co-worker pads her LinkedIn résumé with YOUR job title and qualifications?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: What do you do when you're trapped next to someone whose music is bleeding out from their earbuds?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you alert the flight crew if your fellow passenger is watching porn on the plane?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you tell your Internet date that his/her profile photo is deceptive?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it okay to "conduct your business" while conducting your business?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe follow up a past episode with a discussion about photography, the Internet and the law.
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it too tacky to send far-flung friends of the expectant mother a link to a gift registry?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you let on that you learned something very personal about a friend after Googling their name?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it reasonable to request that photos from a children's birthday party that include your kid be taken down?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you tattle on an airline passenger who ignores the announcement to turn off all electronics?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you inform an old acquaintance who is new to Facebook that his comments about cross-dressing are relatively public?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it necessary to read through an entire comment thread to avoid repetition?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Are all these one-word email replies filling up my inbox really necessary?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it okay to send a digital invitation to your Big Day or is paper still imperative?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you use your WiFi network name to communicate with your neighbors?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it OK to tweet your own horn?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: What should you do when your parents give out your email address to sites you are sure will spam you?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Who gets to announce big news, like having a baby or getting engaged, online?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it wrong to expect your spouse to pull out his earbuds when you are speaking?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it OK to text about your co-workers during a work dinner?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should you announce everything, even a death, on Facebook?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it rude to keep your cell phone on the table during a night out with friends?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: What's the polite way to accept a friend request?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Should a married couple share their email passwords?
Should you confront another driver who's texting while driving? Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question.
What should you do if you get an email meant for someone else? Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question.
What happens if one person in a relationship wants to post their status on Facebook, but the other doesn't? Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question.
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: Is it rude not to reply to a Twitter message directed at you?
Slate's tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and Dear Prudence advice columnist Emily Yoffe debate the question: When is it all right to hide your guest list in an Evite or in the BCC line?