DEAR ABBY: Our 13-year-old son, "Kirk," is monitored when he is online, he is given a curfew when visiting neighborhood friends, and he is overall watched like a hawk. However, we have let him play the video game Xbox Live (where kids all over the country play the same games). We recently found out that an adult (posing as a child) had promised Kirk a free pass and asked him to call to tell him where to send it.
Our son, not knowing any better, did indeed call this man. Fortunately, he did not give him any information. But he didn't think to block the phone number, so now this predator has Kirk's cell phone number. (We are turning off the phone.)
Abby, please warn parents that video games that allow children to play online should be supervised, too! We have had a long conversation with our son, as well as contacted the authorities in the state where this man lives. We are ... TRULY GRATEFUL OUR SON IS SAFE IN THE SOUTHWEST
DEAR TRULY GRATEFUL: I'm sure many parents are unaware that their children are vulnerable when they play online games. Of course, the best way to safeguard a minor who plays these games is to have not just one "long conversation" on the subject, but rather an ongoing dialogue about predatory adults who pretend to be someone they aren't.
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 18 months and have tried to ignore something that has been bothering me in my marriage for a while. I have asked my husband about it a couple of times, but the last time I asked I told him it would be the last time I bring it up.
I think my husband is gay. To be honest, my initial reaction when I met him was that he was. When I introduce him to family or friends, the first thing they ask me is, "Is he gay?" My husband also tells me that he gets hit on by a lot of men. Just the other day, he said a guy walked up to him and said, "Hey, hottie!" and he told him that he didn't swing like that.
I don't know what to think or believe anymore. I don't know if this has to do with unresolved issues of my mom coming out when I was younger, or if I'm overreacting to the attention he gets from gay guys. -- PERPLEXED IN MICHIGAN
DEAR PERPLEXED: It's possible that you do have some unresolved issues regarding your mother. However, I can't help but wonder where it is that your husband is meeting all of the gay men that he brags are hitting on him. Could it be in gay bars? If that's the case, then he's gay.
DEAR ABBY: Please provide a public service to prevent people from looking foolish, specifically those who -- bless their hearts -- have made some drastic change in their lives or their attitudes, and say they have done a "360."
I'm no math professor, but a circle is 360 degrees, which would put them right back where they started. I think the correct thing to say would be, "I've done a 180." What do you think? -- RUNNIN' IN CIRCLES OVER RHETORIC IN FLORIDA
DEAR RUNNIN' IN CIRCLES: I think you are absolutely right, which is why I'm printing your letter.
Our son, not knowing any better, did indeed call this man. Fortunately, he did not give him any information. But he didn't think to block the phone number, so now this predator has Kirk's cell phone number. (We are turning off the phone.)
Abby, please warn parents that video games that allow children to play online should be supervised, too! We have had a long conversation with our son, as well as contacted the authorities in the state where this man lives. We are ... TRULY GRATEFUL OUR SON IS SAFE IN THE SOUTHWEST
DEAR TRULY GRATEFUL: I'm sure many parents are unaware that their children are vulnerable when they play online games. Of course, the best way to safeguard a minor who plays these games is to have not just one "long conversation" on the subject, but rather an ongoing dialogue about predatory adults who pretend to be someone they aren't.
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 18 months and have tried to ignore something that has been bothering me in my marriage for a while. I have asked my husband about it a couple of times, but the last time I asked I told him it would be the last time I bring it up.
I think my husband is gay. To be honest, my initial reaction when I met him was that he was. When I introduce him to family or friends, the first thing they ask me is, "Is he gay?" My husband also tells me that he gets hit on by a lot of men. Just the other day, he said a guy walked up to him and said, "Hey, hottie!" and he told him that he didn't swing like that.
I don't know what to think or believe anymore. I don't know if this has to do with unresolved issues of my mom coming out when I was younger, or if I'm overreacting to the attention he gets from gay guys. -- PERPLEXED IN MICHIGAN
DEAR PERPLEXED: It's possible that you do have some unresolved issues regarding your mother. However, I can't help but wonder where it is that your husband is meeting all of the gay men that he brags are hitting on him. Could it be in gay bars? If that's the case, then he's gay.
DEAR ABBY: Please provide a public service to prevent people from looking foolish, specifically those who -- bless their hearts -- have made some drastic change in their lives or their attitudes, and say they have done a "360."
I'm no math professor, but a circle is 360 degrees, which would put them right back where they started. I think the correct thing to say would be, "I've done a 180." What do you think? -- RUNNIN' IN CIRCLES OVER RHETORIC IN FLORIDA
DEAR RUNNIN' IN CIRCLES: I think you are absolutely right, which is why I'm printing your letter.