iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370 
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Jul 25, 2022 12:00:26 GMT
I mean do people really write in to ask questions or does the publication make them up? Especially today, I can see in days past when we didn't have the internet maybe.
I don't know, but I've always wondered. I see Dear Annie, Abby, Ask Amy online.
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Post by Lexica on Jul 25, 2022 12:10:12 GMT
I don’t know about today’s columns, but the letters that I read in Dear Abby and Dear Ann were real. The sisters were asked that question many times and said they were totally real letters from the public. Some of the questions were poorly written and I can’t see either of the sister’s writing like that.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Jul 25, 2022 12:19:04 GMT
Especially today, I can see in days past when we didn't have the internet maybe. I would say they are real, especially today with the internet. People just want to be seen and heard. It's basic human nature. Sure they could ask Google the same question, but the answer would be lacking the human touch and connection. These established advice columnists seem to fill that need for some. |
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,791
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Jul 25, 2022 12:38:46 GMT
I regularly read Carolyn Hax of the Washington Post. She's quite upfront about only doing light editing on letters for publishing (spelling, identifying features) so she doesn't lose the voice of the writer.
She also does an online chat where she answers a dozen questions a week.
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Post by Skellinton on Jul 25, 2022 12:39:41 GMT
I don't know about today either, but I do know my best friend wrote and had a letter published when we were teenagers. She even got a letter in response via the mail beforehand. I think it was Dear Abby, but it might have been Ann Landers.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 25, 2022 13:27:43 GMT
I regularly read Carolyn Hax of the Washington Post. She's quite upfront about only doing light editing on letters for publishing (spelling, identifying features) so she doesn't lose the voice of the writer. She also does an online chat where she answers a dozen questions a week. i used to read her online and once she got a question that was the plot of the song “Voices Carry.” Commenters clued her in that it was a fake letter. I enjoyed the interaction until she was clued in. I knew it was the song and was just waiting for the lightbulb moment for others. |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 26, 2022 17:37:10 GMT
I think in years past, it was more popular, since resources and options were more limited back then. Especially if one wanted to remain anonymous.
These days, there are many more resources and places in which one can ask for or seek advice. Anonymous or not.
Social media, message boards, influencers, professional help, talking to friends, etc...
Years back, many topics and subject were considered taboo or one didn't discuss "those sorts of things".
These days, like it or not....anything goes in regards to asking a question or discussion topics and subjects. Though, one can decline in answering or scroll on by, if they are not comfortable with the question, discussion, topic, subject....
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Post by katlady on Jul 26, 2022 18:06:27 GMT
Sometimes I think the AITA questions are made up. Some of the stories seem really exaggerated.
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Post by librarylady on Jul 26, 2022 18:23:37 GMT
I have read the advice columns since I was old enough to read. I recall from time to time both Ann Landers and Dear Abby would print a letter but call out the writer/s and say something along the lines of "I know this is made up."
I was surprised to read Carolyn Hax's credentials as often I have thought she surely has the background of a psychologist.
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