Bullying is supposed to be a junior high thing, but everyone knows it doesn't always end when childhood does. Today we have some tips for dealing with bullies, mean girls, and mean guys who are long past their cafeteria days.
The doctor's office is a place where we're often at our most vulnerable. And when doctors are judgmental, be it about our sexual history, our relationship status, our orientation, or our weight, it can be hard to know how to respond. Below, some tips on handling this difficult situation.
We've all been there: trapped in a seemingly neverending conversation with no obvious way out. How do you escape without hurting the other person's feelings. Never fear — whether you're at a party, on the phone, or stuck in an email chain, we have exit strategies for you.
Do you have something uncomfortable to tell someone? Like maybe she smells bad, or he needs to wash his hair more, or everyone can see her underwear when she bends over? Here's how to break the news with minimal fallout — and how to decide if you should keep silent instead.
Religion is one of the three things you're not supposed to talk about at the dinner table (along with politics and The Great Pumpkin). And yet it's pretty important to a lot of people. Here's how to discuss God stuff without getting into a shouting match.
We've all been caught cursing in inappropriate situations (sorry Mom). But how do you recover from this embarrassment, and avoid it in the future? And are there situations when cursing is actually a good idea? Today we answer these questions and more.
We've talked about meeting the parents, but for some couples, there's another, equally important hurdle: meeting the kids. Below, some tips on making your first meeting with your partner's offspring as stress-free as possible.
At weddings, people with no public speaking experience — and no desire to have any — sometimes have to get up in front of a big group of people and say something moving, charming, and memorable. Unsurprisingly, this is stressful! But we have some tips to make it less so.
Like mildew, awkwardness tends to breed in enclosed spaces. Living or working in cramped quarters can create difficult situations for even the most socially adept of us. Today, we'll show you how to handle it.
Usually at Social Minefield we discuss ways to interact with people, but today we'll be talking about how not to interact — specifically, how to get alone time when you need it. People who are introverted may find that they need regular bouts of solitude to recharge, but everybody needs a breather from company…
Clothes-shopping can be stressful for lots of reasons, not least the social: how do you turn down those $400 jeans the salesperson thinks look so great on you, or tell her you don't need any help without sounding like a jerk? Today we answer these and more questions about interacting with sales staff while attempting…
Thanks to Facebook and Twitter, our pool of professional connections is as expansive as our list of friends. While it's savvy to make use of your list of contacts when asking for a work-related favor, it's important to remember that your "friend" online is a more than just a pal when you're asking him or her for a…
Especially if you've never been pregnant — but even if you have — interacting with a pregnant lady can be a big social minefield. You know there's some stuff pregnant women don't especially like (invasive questions, belly rubs from strangers), but how do you avoid that stuff and talk to moms-to-be in a polite and…
A breakup is obviously tough on the couple involved — but if you're friends with them, you face a social minefield of your own. Here's how to navigate it with a minimum of strife.
Starting around middle school, many of us learn that periods are awkward. They require special behaviors and products, some of which we need to perform or purchase in public, and yet we're supposed to keep them totally private. Also, there is blood everywhere. But never fear — we're here to help you negotiate your…
A summer jaunt with your friends can be a source of beautiful memories — or an expensive deathmarch of awkwardness and acrimony. Here's how to make sure it's the former.
Summer is often a time when out-of-town friends come to stay in your house. This can be a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful and difficult — you've got people in your space, and you have to find ways of entertaining them. Fortunately, we have tips to make any visit fun and hassle-free.
Hosting a party can be a stressful undertaking. Will people come? Will they have fun? Is vomit bad for houseplants? We answer all these questions and more.
With Bridesmaids in theaters, it seemed like a good time to address an issue many of you have asked about: how to deal with being a bridesmaid. Below, tips on dress drama, money issues, and much more.
Sometimes, you really want to set your single friends up with each other. But how to do it in a way that's not awkward? And what if it backfires? Today, we answer these questions and more.
