We love having friends visit for the weekend, but are rarely thrilled when we extend an invitation and don't get a timely response. To would-be guests who like to equivocate, Judith Martin (aka Miss Manners), has this sage advice: "Answer. Yes or no. Silence is not only inconvenient, but insulting." And for hosts? "The way to deal graciously with ignored invitations is to let the people know that you consider no answer at all to be a negative answer. 'We're so sorry we won't see you this summer,' you tell them. 'Maybe next summer.' And if they yelp, you can decide whether you can work them in to a schedule that you went ahead and made without them." [Miss Manners on MSN]
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