Thursday, January 13, 2011

Advice Illustrated


Letter 1 is from a woman whose wonderful boyfriend likes anal, and says it's a deal breaker. She doesn't like it. Prudie says she should dump him, because he's evil for waiting a whole five months before telling her. Oh, and she makes a lot of butt jokes.
I say Prudie is again going to get in trouble with the "fetish" crowd. Except, of course, that anal is not a fetish: it's part of the repertoire. And Prudie, each partner doesn't have to enjoy each sex act equally.

The video letter is from a woman whose husband's siblings keep their childhood stuff permanently stored in her hubbie's childhood home in which he and she live. Prudie says to give them a warning that their stuff is leaving, one way or another.
I say, where is the husband in this? His siblings, his problem to deal with. But, yes, Prudie is right.

Letter 2 is from a young woman who is pregnant. Her partner's mother wants to pay off LW's student loans to help them out, but LW's older, childless future SIL is furious, accusing her of getting pregnant on purpose to curry favor. LW doesn't want to offend the bitch. Prudie says to take the money and push.
I say, what is LW supposed to do? Forego children so as to not make her future SIL jealous? Ignore the bitch. And yes, get your finances in order (and use birth control please!).

Letter 3 is a perplexing letter from a woman with an evil stepmother. I'll spare you the inplausible details. Prudie says to accept her father's overtures, but be wary.
I say I don't understand her story. If her father wanted to finance her studies, why didn't that happen? Why wouldn't she contact her father directly? But now that it's over, I really wouldn't bother with this spermdude.

Letter 4 is from a woman who has regular guests to her home who don't know when to leave. Prudie gives some advice.
I say, did you really need to write about this? See Miss Manners HERE.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Advice Illustrated

Letter 1 is from a person whose sister is dating a registered sex offender. Sister says he's innocent, but research shows he's not, or at least that he's not being truthful with sister. LW doesn't want BF around, to protect the kiddies. Sister says this ain't fair. Prudie says better safe than sorry, and make sure sister knows she's been sold a line.
I say that although I'm opposed to sex offender hysteria, here it seems clear that there's a choice between children really being harmed, or hurting your sister's feelings. Guess who wins?
And yet... he says he plead guilty to protect his family. And research shows that he plead guilty after his sister made a suicide attempt. Which may or may not have meant he was guilty. I could imagine her trying to commit suicide because she realized she made a false accusation and didn't know how to get out of it. And if so, he could consider even a good lawyer bad if the lawyer let him plead guilty despite being innocent.

Video letter is from a person who attends musicals with a friend. Friend sings or hums during the musical numbers. Prudie says he should tell her to shut up.
So do I. Duh. But I wouldn't be threatening elbows. I'd try a more Judith Martinian tack: "Darling, I know you must not realize your singing along. I find myself doing that sometimes, the music is so delightful. Please give me a nudge if you ever find me doing it; I know you'd want me to do the same for you."

Letter 2 is from a woman who gave her MIL a nice but inexpensive Xmas gift. MIL gave LW an expensive gift, and has now called LW a cheapskate and a dolt (for not knowing that MIL is allergic to cheap or something). MIL even wants LW to return her gift! Prudie goes into the "if this behavior is odd, MIL might be senile" shtick.
I say what Smag says. Return the gift, and have no further contact with this individual. She is dead to you (and as she has decided not to be your mother-in-law, she has no connection with any children you may have now or in future). And again, WHERE IS THE HUSBAND????? And no, Prudie, he doesn't think this behavior is out of the ordinary for her, he's just "confused". He's confused because he's a pussy who doesn't know what to do, which is to grow a pair and deal with the bitch rather than leaving his wife to ask advice from some online advice lady.

Letter 3 is from a person whose coworked got fired because he can't deal with people. She thinks he's Asperger's. Should she tell him? Prudie says yes.
I say, if you care about him and his situation, of course you should. Maybe you're the one with Asperger's?

Letter 4 is from a person who have been (probably fairly) accused of cheating at high-stakes poker. What should LW do? Prudie says LW needs to tell friend that friend is no longer going to be playing because he's been accused of cheating.
I agree with Prudie, and with her wonderment that LW wants to be friends with someone he thinks has stolen from him.