DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a friend who retells the same stories over and over and over again. It’s like he cannot recall telling them to me before, or he just wants to re-experience them himself — and who cares whether I have to hear them again.

I don’t know. It makes me feel very irritated. I have tried gently indicating that I have already heard that story. But that has not helped. Today, my “irritation-pot” boiled over, and I snapped at him, telling him that I had already heard that story, including the circumstances in which he last told it to me.

He went silent and did not respond to my snapping comment, so I am left wondering whether he understood what I was saying — that his retelling stories irritates me.

We are both guys, and we don’t talk about feelings — I believe that is common for men. I’m left wondering what to do about this.

GENTLE READER: Expressing your feelings as you did was what got you in trouble, and you are going to need to apologize for that.

After that, Miss Manners recommends diplomacy, humor and patience: Most people repeat themselves sometimes, usually out of habit or carelessness — not with the intention to hurt or annoy someone. Keep that in mind the next time you say you’ve already heard that one, so that you can smile and, without rancor, change the subject.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.