Dear Miss Manners, who has multiple sclerosis, has been asked how to respond to a person's chronic illness with a gracious way of expressing it without making it a death sentence. She suggests that a simple, "I'm sorry to hear that," or "Thank you" as a compromise, is a good way of responding to such a situation. Miss. Manners recommends rating the speaker's intent in rating the offensiveness of other responses, but the quickest way out of the conversation would be a simple "Thank You" before moving on. A woman recently joined a women's group in her town with approximately 20 members is considered self-centered and talks over the other members. If you cannot control this person, finding more patience within yourself, increasing distance to this person at events, socializing with a different group, or a palace coup that leaves you in control of the guest list.