In this episode of Awkward Etiquette: Old Money and New Manners, etiquette expert and author Kiki Astor explores the fascinating social tension between strategic vagueness and chronic oversharing. Kiki dissects why old money aristocracy and traditional upper-class society view discretion and understatement as the ultimate forms of power and elegance. Listeners will learn how aristocratic etiquette historically used ambiguity to navigate court politics and protect privacy, contrasting this with modern social media culture that rewards radical transparency, trauma dumping, and parasocial relationships.

Kiki offers practical advice on navigating these conflicting communication styles, explaining when vagueness becomes passive-aggressive and when vulnerability crosses the line into a boundary violation. From handling intrusive questions about finances to mastering the art of the graceful decline, this episode provides a masterclass in conversational etiquette. Whether you are navigating a cocktail party, managing family scandals, or simply trying to avoid the organ recital of health complaints, Auntie Kiki reveals how to balance privacy with authenticity to maintain social harmony and mystique.

---

SHOW NOTES

"Dogs and Horses": The Aristocratic Art of Vagueness vs Oversharing

Welcome back to Awkward Etiquette! Today, your Auntie Kiki is diving deep into the communication wars: the silence of the old guard versus the "tell-all" nature of the modern world. Why do some people never give a straight answer, while others treat a first date like a therapy session? We are breaking down the history, psychology, and manners behind how much we reveal.

In this episode, we cover:

-Strategic Vagueness: Why old money families describe running a hedge fund as "something in finance" and how understatement signals status and confidence.

-The History of Discretion: From the court of Louis XIV to Jane Austen's novels, we look at why saying less was historically a survival mechanism for the elite.

-The Three Pillars of Old Money Silence: Privacy, social flexibility (the art of the non-committal RSVP), and status signaling.

-Topics You Must Never Discuss Directly: Wealth, family scandals, and personal achievements. (Why saying "the family has a few things" is more chic than flashing a bank statement).

-The Rise of Oversharing: How therapy culture and social media algorithms have conditioned us to mistake "trauma dumping" for intimacy.

- Parasocial Relationships: Why we feel emotionally connected to strangers online and how this leads to boundary violations in real life.

-Etiquette SOS:

- How to handle intrusive questions about money.

- The polite way to decline an invitation without lying.

- When gossip is harmless fun vs. when it is destructive.

-Romance & Mystery: Kiki's advice on why you shouldn't tell your partner everything (keep the biological effluvia to yourself, darling!).

Quotes from Kiki:

- "This isn't LinkedIn, it's a cocktail party."

*-"The real goal of etiquette is not silence, but it's not confession. It is knowing how much to say, when to say it, and to whom."

*-"Information is power. And power must always be handled carefully."

Mentioned in this Episode:

-Scarlet Fever (Kiki's latest novel)

- Irving Goffman (Sociologist on "face-saving" communication)

-Kiki's upcoming perfume-themed book set in Morocco (Reviewers wanted!)

Connect with Kiki:

-Email: Madamexofmontecito@gmail.com

-Sign up for the Guest List (my weekly newsletter with etiquette and style tips and charming musings)