DEAR MISS MANNERS: I subscribe to the belief that, at a sit-down meal, it’s correct to wait until all guests have received their food before you begin to eat.

However, it seems like other folks never got this same lesson. I frequently find that some well-intentioned guest will look over, notice me not eating, and try to persuade me to go ahead and dig in -- without any regard for the other guests who don’t yet have their food.

This really irks me. I’m well aware that, yes, I could in fact begin eating, but I’m intentionally choosing to wait out of consideration. What’s a polite way I can tell these types of people to butt out?

GENTLE READER: A polite way would be to say, “Thank you; I will in just a moment.”

Miss Manners agrees with you that it is polite to wait for everyone to be se

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