Skip to main content

Story: Manners and social behaviour

The polite son-in-law

Image
The polite son-in-law

This 2007 cartoon by Tom Scott refers to a fundamental test of good manners – graciously receiving presents that are not to your taste. Here, the polite son-in-law feigns delight after unwrapping a bizarre Christmas gift.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: DCDL-0004765

by Tom Scott

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Manners and social behaviour – Defining manners, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/39828/the-polite-son-in-law (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 3 December 2012.