When do you hold back? Where do you draw the line?

Yes to the first two, no to the last example. I can safely assume that the person with something in his teeth or a broken tail light could be unaware of his situation and might rather be informed. I am thinking of the “do unto others as you would have them do to you” golden rule. I would rather someone tell me, and I don’t think I would be aware of either of those situations. In the example of hairy armpits though, it is clear the person knows full well of the condition of their pits and legs. I would not be telling the person anything they don’t already know. Sweating is also involuntary, something the person could not stop doing even if I complained. I would simply move to another seat.

I have honked and gotten the attention of another driver to tell them their coat or coat belt is hanging out the car door on more than one occasion. I don’t know that I would tell someone I didn’t know that they had something on their face.

There’s also this similar question.

Typically, if your intervention could help in any way then the right thing to do is inform someone. If your just flouting your opinions to random strangers then your probably off base….

The first one,maybe.The second one,yes.The third one,I doubt it.I would just move.

Generally my motives dictate whether or not I should say something.

If my motive is meant to be helpful to another person, it’s a good thing.

Quietly telling someone there’s something in his teeth or toilet paper on his shoe would hopefully save him some embarrassment.

Letting someone know he has a tail light out might save him a ticket or even an accident.

The girl… That’s different. If my personal space were being violated by her sweat dripping I might move or if possible ask her to be more aware.

But whether she needs to shave her legs is a personal opinion, and really is none of my business.

I will speak up if I believe there will be a good outcome, and not if I don’t see a good outcome.

So long as your not interfering with me, if I’d want someone to point it out to me, I’ll point it out to them. If it is interfering, as the three kids sitting two rows up from us in the theater found out last year, the line shifts.

@wonderingwhy So you’re the one with the harpoon. My friend is still in the hospital. And the movie sucked!

Drippy armpits and hairy legs. I wouldn’t say something like that. For all I know she is so broke she can’t afford a razor or deodorant and if I don’t want to be dripped on I can get off my duff and offer her my seat. “Here dear, you sit, I’d like to stretch my legs.

@Silhouette I liked that a lot. There are certain phrases in English that come naturally to native speakers, which are taken for granted. Like that one. I would consider myself a gentleman in that I would offer my seat to the elderly and to women, but I would do so in the usual way of thinking to myself that “you’re a woman/old – you should sit” kind of way.

I shall use that line in future, as it allows one to be given a seat without any awkwardness. The other person simply wants to stretch his legs. I like that.

:-)

@Zen_Again Thanks.

I won’t tell strangers much but will tell a friend about lipstick on the teeth, food in the teeth, clothes label sticking out, stray threads, stains or nose boogers and I expect my friends to look out for me too.