In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to politely declining photo help from strangers.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I need to know if I am justified in feeling miffed. Let me set the scene: I was the second of three people waiting in line to pay for our purchases at a local shop in our small town ...

Miss Manners feels reasonably certain that if you execute that last part successfully, most people will acquiesce. If you want to tailor it to different generations for maximum effect, you might ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I need to know if I am justified in feeling miffed. Let me set the scene: I was the second of three people waiting in line to pay for our purchases at a local shop in our small town ...

I understand they come from a place of wanting to help. But should I have to explain why we don’t need their assistance?

Miss Manners feels reasonably certain that if you execute that last part successfully, most people will acquiesce. If you want to tailor it to different generations for maximum effect, you might ...

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I need to know if I am justified in feeling miffed. Let me set the scene: I was the second of three people ...

Miss Manners feels reasonably certain that if you execute that last part successfully, most people will acquiesce. If you ...

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; ...

Miss Manners: The women at work ignored me whenever I spoke. What should I have done? Plus: My husband and his young receptionist reject my etiquette tips ...

Miss Manners feels certain that you will not have to get much further than the second sentence before your friend realizes what she is asking, starts to panic and retreats.