Short Answers / BUYER BEWARE

By Jeff Johnson and Paula Forman

Dear Short Answers:
A close friend of mine asked me to contribute to a charity that she is very involved with. It wasn’t something that I was personally interested in but I made a contribution as a personal favor to my friend. Shortly after I sent the money, I heard that the charity had gone out of business due to financial problems. I asked my friend if I could get my money back and she said that my contribution went to pay for debts that the charity had incurred. I am beyond furious. Don’t you think my friend should pay me back the $1,000 that I sent to HER charity?
Pissed Off

Dear Pissed:
We get it, but ultimately, the choice to contribute was yours. Sorry.

YOU GOT A PROBLEM, LADY?

Dear Short Answers:
My neighbor is constantly flirting with my husband and it’s really starting to bother me. I don’t think that my husband is fooling around (this woman is not that attractive to begin with) but he does seem to like the attention. And I just think that obvious flirting past the age of 30 is really unseemly. How do I get her to stop?
Flo

Dear Flo:
Sounds like they’re having fun — and you aren’t. Do you think fun past 30 is also “unseemly”?

NO ACCOUNTING FOR RUDENESS

Dear Short Answers:
Over the past several years I have had some serious skin issues and stay out of the sun as much as I possibly can.  People have started to “comment” on how pale I am. I just say that I am sensitive to the sun or that I don’t want my skin to age pre-maturely, but some people are relentless. Yesterday, a woman at work kept badgering me, telling me that I looked sickly and pale and asking me what was wrong? I finally blurted out that I have skin cancer and can’t go out in the sun and that shut her up. I guess my question is this: what makes people feel that they have the right (especially in front of other people) to comment on another person’s appearance in a negative way?
Hypersensitive

Dear Hyper:
You’re right, she is wrong. You can say “I don’t wish to discuss it” to just about anyone about anything.

ADJUSTMENT DEPARTMENT

Dear Short Answers:
How do I convince my husband that since he is now retired, he needs to help me with the cooking, cleaning and other household chores.  Frankly, I don’t think it’s fair that he gets to “retire” but I have to keep doing all the housework for the rest of my life.  He feels that he has worked hard all his life and deserves this.  What about me?  Any advice?
Alice

Dear Alice:
Helping you with your household chores is bound to be a non-starter. No one likes to go from a job with identity and all that goes with it to “mother’s little helper.” If you’re sick of your job, you need to figure out a solution.

FASHION POLICE ON THE PROWL

Dear Short Answers:
Do you think it’s okay for heavy-set women to wear really low-cut dresses? I think that E-cup breasts should not be seen in public.
MJK

Dear MJK:
Do the E-cups belong to you? We don’t think you should be making wardrobe choices for anyone except yourself.

Life is complicated. Short Answers isn’t.

Send a question about whatever is bothering you to [email protected] or go to www.shortanswers.net and a psychologist and sociologist will answer. A selection of the best questions will be printed every week in KonkLife.

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