Personality Adjustment for Conversation : Page 169

In all questioning you should observe certain cautions and rules. By this time most people know that they are not, in general company, to inquire of anyone his age, nationality, religion, or income. But you must be cautious beyond that. Before asking any question, you should reflect if any circumstances might make it embarrassing or unwelcome. Under circumstances, questions like, "Where is your wife tonight?" (or husband, sweetheart, boy friend), or "Were you to early or late Mass on Sunday?" or "What did John give you for your birthday?" or "Was that your sister I saw you with Wednesday evening?" might well be unwelcome. Unthinkingly asking a person what make of car he drives (if he should happen to have none), where he works (if the position is a humble or menial one), where she lives (if the street or quarter is a shabby one), where he went to college (if he happens not to have attended any) produces unnecessary embarrassment or humiliation. Of course, if you have reason to surmise that a person is a banker or drives a custom-made or lives on Society Hill, then by all means ask about it, but otherwise confine yourself to provocative suggestions. If you say to