I try to keep the conversation light-hearted at first, but once it's clear that my conversational partner is getting a little too light-hearted, I need to make sure that they know I'm serious about the fact that the blue tag hanging on my rearview mirror is mine.
Of the over one hundred etiquette subjects I have taught, dress and etiquette are always in the top ten. Dressing is not like setting the table, where rules rule. Are there rules for dress? You bet, but there's a lot more freedom of style.
High school is not a real representation of the world outside. Those who are ostracized for being unique or different (for whatever reason) are often the people that go on to have interesting and fulfilling lives.
The AA definition of insanity is doing the same thing in the same way over and over again and expecting a different result. Is that what we're doing with the economy? To some extent, yes, I think we are.