Q: Let’s say you and a friend are seated on a train or in a waiting room — anywhere you’re allowed to choose your own seat, really. Someone sits next to you, and it’s obvious he has a horrible cold. He’s sneezing and coughing all over the place. Is it rude to get up and move to different seats? A: It’s not rude to move — it’s rude to spread your germs to other people. If you know you have something contagious, you really shouldn’t expose others to it, and I don’t blame you at all for wanting to move away from someone who looks like he might be contagious. Just be as subtle as possible. It would be rude, for example, to say loudly to your friend, “Hey, Hester, how about we change seats so we don’t catch whatever Plague Boy here has?” Just whisper, “Let’s move,” and find different seats without rolling your eyes, glaring at the sick guy or otherwise making a big production of it.

Q: Is it rude to walk through a department store while dragging a carry-on bag behind you? I was in New York City overnight and found out my flight home was delayed, so I decided to do some shopping before going to the airport. I had a small, wheeled suitcase with me. I didn’t think it was a big deal, but people in Saks gave me really dirty looks.