DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why is it that people see it as mandatory to send a thank-you for a gift? It seems like people give gifts ...

Gifts, to me, are not a chore and not an obligation. If I get a thank-you card, it is nice, but I do not see any obligation ...

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; ...

With a written note, certainly a parent must stamp and address it, and perhaps hover over the child to inspire them to write.

GENTLE READER: Ideally, there would be an unobserved moment when you could snag it back onto your plate with a fork or napkin ...