Humans are a noisy and fidgety bunch. If the abrupt ring of a mobile phone doesn't ruin a tranquil moment, a human sound surely will. This week, readers share their noisy nuisances and get much needed etiquette advice.

Question: I recently went to an HD broadcast of a Metropolitan Opera performance at the Lensic. These events are almost always sold out, so the auditorium is usually packed. The gentleman next to me was a difficult seatmate. He had extremely offensive breath, which enveloped me whenever he sighed, laughed or coughed. I didn't feel I could talk with a complete stranger about such a personal issue -- which is hard enough to do with a dear friend. His other very annoying habit was to repeatedly suck air through his teeth. I tried glaring at him and even clearing my throat to try to make him aware of his behavior, but he was oblivious. How would you handle such a situation? --J.D. Santa Fe

Answer: Between vibrating cellphones, tapping feet and ushers seating latecomers, going to the theater feels like an operatic tragedy on occasion. It's unlikely that the noisy chap seated next to you was cognizant of the fact that he was tainting the theater with his breath or that the air moving through his teeth seemed to be accompanying the orchestra's wind section. Many of the annoyances at the theater are involuntary and subconscious. Pen-tapping, gum-snapping divas deserve a tapping themselves, but when bodily functions are involved, the issue is awkward to address.

Take an aisle seat whenever possible to limit the odds of sitting next to a noisy neighbor. If you wind up with a problem neighbor anyway, try leaning in the opposite direction. Offering candies to those around you is a kind and inclusive gesture, a subtle way to freshen the air and, perhaps, temporarily stop odd breathing techniques without singling the wind sucker out. And remember, it never hurts to ask an usher to check for available seats elsewhere in the theater.

In the end, there is little you can do about a neighbor's halitosis at the theater or opera. Try to focus on the show to minimize your discomfort.

Question: I live in a rental apartment on the ground floor. The couple in the apartment above mine is, to put it mildly, quite active in the bedroom -- and at all hours. The construction of the building is poor, so I am often awakened during the night and easily disturbed during the day. Should I say something to them, or handle the situation in some other way? --A.L. Santa Fe

Answer: The cardinal rule for renters is to consider only top-floor corner units. This reduces the possibility of shuffling feet and activities under the sheets keeping you up at night. But obviously, everyone can't live in the "penthouse."

White noise can sometimes do a great job of muffling unwanted sounds. We drown out our snoring pug with a fan and a sound machine set to crashing waves, tree frog calls and, sometimes, even a vacuum cleaner. You might also try noise-canceling headphones.

If this doesn't help, write the loud lovebirds an anonymous letter. You are likely not the only sleeping beauty being awakened at 3 a.m. Find out if any of your other neighbors have been bothered by the couple's trysts so that you can mention it in your letter. If the behavior continues, your next best bet is to file a complaint with your landlord. This couple is breaking noise ordinance bylaws and, unless the ad for the apartment read "one bedroom/one bath -- frisky neighbors included," the landlord must enforce the rules. If pushed to the brink, negotiate for a different apartment or a break in your lease.

Bizia Greene owns the Etiquette School of Santa Fe. Send your comments and conundrums to etiquette@etiquettesantafe.com or 988-2070.