Conference quark::human_relations

I tend to agree with Ann here, though it's likely that the writer worked in
an "open office" where it would be difficult to hide grooming activities.
Even in office cubbies, I'd vote for doing it in the bathroom, not the office.

				Steve

    	I figure it's OK as long as one uses a toenail clipper or a pair of
    dikes.  Biting them in an office setting is clearly unacceptable.  You
    might even fall off of your chair and have to apply for workmen's comp.
    						John
    

    For a woman wearing panty hose, removing one's "socks" might create
    an even greater stir than the actual toenail clipping, especially
    if she hung her "socks" over the cubicle wall.  Also, especially
    hardened big toenails occasionally fly off the clippers and could
    land in unintended locations (someone's morning coffee!!).
    
    No..no..no.....Clipping shoud definitely be done in private!
    
    Kris

    I believe Miss Manners' usual take on these things is "No harm, no
    foul," in the sense that if you can get away with it without anybody
    seeing you, it's OK, but if someone might walk by at any moment and be
    treated to the toenail-clipping or whatever, you should take yourself
    somewhere with a door. [Emergencies that don't permit a dash to the
    bathroom - sudden, messy sneezes, for example - must be handled on a
    case by case basis...]
    
    'course, if it's a shared office space, I would hope that not only
    would the clipping be done discreetly but that the remains would be
    decently disposed of; it would be truly gross to sit down at your desk
    and find your feet crunching on somebody else's nail clippings. ;-)
    
    -b

Re: .4

Au contraire, Miss Manners has frequently stated her opinion that grooming is
best done in private.  She doesn't care for the "well, it's natural!"
attitude.  I'll see if I can find a reference in my copy of her "Guide to
Excruciatingly Correct Behavior".

					Steve

    The closest I could find that seemed relevant was this:
    
    Dear Miss Manners:
    
    I know that picking the teeth is considered gauche in this country,
    but other cultures are more sensible about the discomfort of food
    stuck in the mouth.  What do you think?
    
    Gentle Reader:
    
    Miss Manners realizes that dislodging food from the teeth is one of
    life's great sensual pleasures, and believes that great sensual
    pleasure should be enjoyed in private.
    
    
    I know I have read a number of her columns in which she is adamant
    that grooming should never be done in public.
    
    					Steve

    Clipping one's toenails in a work environment? Even if it was done in
    the person's cubicle, that's disgusting. Hopefully the next time this
    person commits such a gross breach of etiquette, and upsets those with
    extremely developed senses of what is decent, that all those upset will
    band together and stomp the ignoramus into a bloody pulp. I am not sure
    Miss Manners has a point of view on this or not but I am sure she would 
    stress that the stompers maintain a sense of manners while stomping,
    "Oh, I AM so sorry. By all means you should go ahead of me in kicking
    this social misfit's face to a pulp. I shall wait my turn as taught me
    by Miss Manners."

    Miss Manners would also say that one does not "enforce" etiquette
    but one may privately approach the offender later and communicate
    their displeasure in a kind fashion.
    
    					Steve

    I think my interpretation of Miss Manners' views on the matter is in
    accord with yours for the most part - if I'm allowed to define
    "private" as "anywhere where nobody will see what you're doing". *If*
    one can render one's office or cubicle "private" for the required
    period of time, I don't see a difference between that and retiring to
    the loo <well, other than in the ease of disposing of the evidence!>.
    
    However, I'll concede that there are a percentage of folks who don't
    seem to realize when they're in full view of others (or perhaps they
    just don't care), as evidenced not only by the toenail-clipping guy of
    the base note but also by the people who sit in their cars at
    stoplights a few feet away from the folks in the next car, and pick
    their teeth (or other parts of their anatomies)...
    
    -b

    It's too bad we have to rely in "miss Manners"... if we need her advise
    means we don't have much manners of our own... if we still think we can do
    such a thing at work!
    
    I agree it is disgusting and should be done in private. (it must be
    very "pleasant" to do business and shake hands with a person who has just 
    manipulated their feet! juck!)
    
    Oh well, who knows what to expect in the future... (maybe a bed-pan
    under the desk by the PC... ? after all "nature's call" is also
    natural...)
    
    Sorry, I could not resist!  Ana