Dear Pauline,
Just the other night, I boarded a train at Spencer Street to travel home to surburban Sandringham and noticed the carriage was quite full. In fact, there was only one seat available so naturally I took it as it's quite a long trip. My problem arose because, as the carriage emptied, I found myself confronted with rows of empty seats all around me. Like most people, I like my space and normally I would have just moved to a new seat but here was my dilemma: the man still sitting right beside me was Aboriginal and I was concerned that he or the other passengers still aboard would think I was moving because of his colour. What should I have done?

Keeping up appearances,
Melbourne.

Pauline replies: Your predicament is typical of how the politically correct age has got us all nervy, confused and, yes, even frightened. You should have done what made you feel good rather than worry about other people' s feelings, especially the darkie's.

Do you have a question of social etiquette you need answered. Drop Pauline a line.