Dear Gabby's Letters
How many times have we read advice columnists such as Dear Abby or Dr. Drew and didn't totally agree with their reply?
Here are a few letters and the columnist's replies just as they were printed in a newspaper.
Garrulous Gabby has added a different reply—from a communicologist's
point of view—neither right nor wrong, merely different—here
are some other examples
of thinking outside the box.
Read
Read a letter and the columnist's reply, then, imagine how you would have
replied and how you think Gabby will reply. The ability to be-with all points of view,
without reacting or getting upset, is a valid test of your
leadership-relationship communication-skills.
Most Viewed Letters:*
- Anonymous letter my husband is having an affair
- Wife never apologizes
- Should I apologize to my ex?
- Thoughts about crying after sex
- My wife hits me when we argue
- Daughter refuses to hold off on marriage to abusive fiancé
- Should I tell boyfriend my history of abuse?
- Teen feels pressure to lose virginity
- What is it about women who steal husbands?
- Daughter-in-law is abusive to my son
- I'm afraid to say I love you to my boyfriend
- Grandpa’s expressions of affection—appropriate?
- Daughter is rude and treats me with contempt
- Dad fears son's lazy girlfriend will be lazy wife
- Daughter unsure how to handle estranged mother
- Daughter—alcoholic mom—estrangement—guilt
- Daughter wants to sever ties with mother-in-law
- What behaviors to forgive?
[ top ]
Abuse Issues:- Abusive behavior passes from father to son
- Abuse survivor afraid to be honest
- Boyfriend abusing our new baby daughter
- Sever ties only with abusive father
- Son trashes mom, upsets others, during eulogy
- Children upset by parents' fighting
- Daughter dreads mom's abusive visit
- Mom can't stand 10-year-old daughter
- Woman loses interest in balding boyfriend
- Offended wife wants me to give up golf buddy
- Eligible woman bemoans clueless men
- Abuse survivor afraid to be honest
[ top ]
Shunning-Estrangement Issues:- Godmother creates being banned
- Dad supports daughter shunning Mom for infidelity
- Dad gets shunned by daughter
- Should I tell parents about my HIV?
- Silence serves only the molester
- Expression of love drove her away
- Man fine being distant from mother
- Should I go to Grandma's funeral?
- Dad supports daughter shunning Mom for infidelity
[ top ]
Parenting Issues:- Feud causing strain at school where mom and son work
- My son is ignoring me
- Man fine being distant from mother
- Daughter refuses to hold off on marriage to abusive fiancé
- Guilt about not loving my stepdaughters
- Daughter should be spared pain of secret
- Mother-controlling daughter
- Dad's concerns about unhealthy daughters
- My son is ignoring me
[ top ]
Infidelity-Cheating Issues:- Woman confused by desires to cheat
- I think my husband is still cheating on me
- Husband’s salon tan—a sign he’s cheating on wife
- Husband’s jealousy may be justified
- Wife walked out on him but won't explain
- Should I tell stepfather that mom's cheating with dad?
- Married woman still thinking about old boyfriend
- Fiancé's cheating may be a one-time thing
- Pastor’s wife with a past could cause havoc
- Fed up with her ‘caring’ husband’s insensitive remarks
- Faithful husband pays for wife's distrust
- I think my husband is still cheating on me
[ top ]
Sex Issues:- Wife tired of husband's sex drive
- Wife wants hubby to wear lingerie
- Woman hides her body and her feelings
- Man tries to push [sex] envelope too far
- Should I marry man whose stepfather is a pedophile?
- Communications about pedophilia
- Wife wants hubby to wear lingerie
[ top ]
Dating-Social Issues:- Friends won't RSVP my invitations
- Single women wonder if they’ll find love
- Schizo-affective diagnosed woman—relationship advice
- Boyfriend dragging feet on long road to alter
- She wants to be nice without giving number
- Man seeks help on rules of dating
- History of betrayal plagues woman
- Saying 'love' at the right time
- Upset about insensitive divorce comments
- Friend is stealing my dates
- Woman hasn't met her longtime boyfriend's family
- Wife ashamed of house and cars
- Academic overachiever lonely
- Woman wants to pay for dinner
- Concerns about my boyfriend's friends
- Complaining dinner friend an embarrassment
- Single women wonder if they’ll find love
[ top ]
In-law Issues:- Wife upset about my family's integrity
- Mom stays close to daughter's exes
- How do I relate with ex-son-in-law?
- Guilty about not loving stepchildren
- Mom-in-law fed up with accusations of playing favorites
- Mom stays close to daughter's exes
[ top ]
Supporting-Helping others Issues:- Woman says pot use ruining friend
- Friend won’t take sides in couple’s fights
- Woman doubts ability to help friend
- Secret about girlfriend's incest
- Awkward moment at funeral stirs concern
- Dating woman great, except for her immature children
- Lending or borrowing—a possible set up
- Breast obsessed boyfriend wants me to get implants
- Friend won’t take sides in couple’s fights
[ top ]
Teen Issues:- Teen feels pressure to lose virginity
- 18-year-old girl asks, what am I doing wrong?
- Visit to grandparents' bores teenagers
- What’s wrong with being serious?
- Do I have to be nice to my boyfriend's family?
- 18-year-old girl asks, what am I doing wrong?
[ top ]
Work-Job Issues:- Searching for new job on company time
- Boyfriend's call interrupts business meeting
- Ex groupie doesn't want another musician
- Co-worker conducting second job on company time
- Go around your boss
- Request for job interview self-confidence tips
- Boyfriend's call interrupts business meeting
[ top ]
* It's encouraging to see dozens of daily viewings from other countries; most foreigners use translation applications though I question the accuracy of many words. For example: Ask every (yes every) speech-communication professor, teacher, physical/mental health-care professional, military leader, judge, clergy member, or parent his/her definition of the word responsible and every single one will be different. Most everyone's "home-grown" definition contains implied exclusions such as, "How I communicate does not affect your health, happiness or prosperity." Their definition purposefully ignores the word "cause" included in dictionary definitions.
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