Dear Advice Girl,

Please Help!

I found a guy that I really like, and want to go out with, but I met him on the Internet.

All my friends think I am crazy! We have talked for a few months and we even talk on the phone.

Do you think I should go out with him? If yes, what do I tell my friends, and where do we go?

Sleepless in Cyberspace

Dear Sleepless in Cyberspace,

If you say you really like this guy, then what is stopping you?
Your friends will understand if they are your real friends. I can’t stress that enough.

There are a few good things about meeting someone on the Internet.

One is that you can really get to know someone by only having conversations with them. (That is, if they are not lying.) Two, you can put off and also plan the first impression day. (We all get nervous, don’t we?!)

If you really want to go out with this guy, then you should.
Tell your friends your decision. If it goes well, you can brag to them later and tell them they were wrong.

If it doesn’t go too well, hopefully, it will be something that you can laugh about in the future.

As far as where to go, make sure to go to a very well-lit, public place.

After all, you only know them by what they say about themselves. (I bet even Charles Manson has surfed the ‘net a time or two).

Let your friends know where you're going and have a cell phone on hand, just in case.

Good Luck!

Dear Advice Girl, I am gay and I'm afraid that my friends will all hate me now. What do I do about this? Should I just keep quiet about being gay and censor everything that I do and live a lie; or should I come out to my friends and be me?

In the Closet

Dear In the Closet, If you are having doubts about “coming out” right now, then it’s probably not the right time. You will know when it’s the right time because, although you may still be scared, you will feel comfortable about expressing your sexuality. As far as your friends go, if they are really your friends, they will accept you for who you are.
They will not only accept you, but they will also support you if they are your true friend.
If your friends do not accept and support you, then you don’t need them. Move on and find some real friends. My advice is to wait until you feel completely comfortable about letting your secret out.
But remember, first and foremost, it’s always better to just be you!

Dear Advice Girl, My co-worker has the insane ability to get on my nerves. She does things that cause me to doubt my sanity and refuses to do her actual work, instead, opting to stay on the phone with her friends all the time. I’m getting so annyoed at her that I’ve actually considered quitting and not looking back. After further consideration, I decided to tell my boss, who did nothing about the girl who doesn’t work. I am so frustrated. I don’t want to give up my job, but I don’t want to deal with her. What should I do?

Frustrated As Hell

Dear Frustrated As Hell,

Smack some sense into her.

No, seriously, you need to talk to your co-worker and explain how you feel used.

Tell her that she needs to start pulling her own weight or she’ll get the boot.

Even though your manager sided with her, that gives her no guarantee that someone else can’t fire her.

If you must, go to the person higher up than your own boss and explain the situation.

Make sure to give examples and instances of your co-worker’s laziness and inability to get her work done.

Your boss’s boss should recognize the problem and fix it.

Don’t make her the cause of your quitting. It’s not worth losing money over.

You may have to learn to deal with her lack of participation and suck it up. Just remember that good things happen to those who are patient.

Advice Girl is looking to help others. Advice Girl is not a psychologist...she’s not even one person. Use advice at your own risk.

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