SirLance

The retired sanitation worker got a job on the railways as a steward one summer, and the first day he accompanied another steward to learn the ropes. "It's very simple," said his tutor, "just use diplomacy."

"What's diplomacy?" asked the older man, as that was something he'd never needed in the sewers.

"Watch me, I'll show you," said the steward-in-charge.

Off they went down the train corridor, rattling compartment doors, opening them with special keys and offering tea or coffee. When the tutor steward flung open one door, he was confronted with a buck-naked woman. Without batting an eyelid he asked, "Tea or coffee, sir?"

The surprised woman took the cup of tea and he shut the door.

"Wow, did you see that cutie?" said the new steward. "She had no clothes on! But hey, why did you call her 'sir'?"

"That's diplomacy!" said his tutor. "I did not want to embarrass her, so I gave her the impression I wasn't looking close enough to see whether she was a man or a woman, let alone undressed. See?"

The retired man was most impressed with his teacher. The next day, on his own now, he flung open a door to a compartment and found a couple making love on the bed.

"Tea or coffee, sir?"

"Tea," the man replied.

"And for your brother?"

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DEMOCRACY is where your vote counts, FEUDALISM is where your count votes.