‘HELLO, JOE! I JUST CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT JOE’ DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been mortified, twice, by close friends while talking on the phone. They each told a story about another friend who repeatedly annoys them with a certain behavior. It was only later that I realized they were talking about me! What does Miss Manners think of this way of criticizing a friend? GENTLE READER: That your friends are not as smart as they think they are. Miss Manners wonders how they would respond to option 1 — “Oh my goodness, you’re talking about me! I had no idea that annoyed you! I am so, so very sorry! P…
