Many newspapers and magazines have an advice page. People write to ask for help with their problems. The following Internet posts were written by four teenagers to an online newspaper.
Anna:
I’am worried about my friend Jolin. She wants to be a model and she’s thin, but she thinks she’s fat. She’s always on a diet. She’s getting too thin, but whenever I talk to her about this, she gets angry. How can I help her?
Peter:
I went out with a group of friends yesterday. We saw a lady lying in the street. She looked very sick. My friends made jokes about her and laughed. Though i wanted to help her, my friends told me not to. It was awful of them to laugh at her, and I regret not saying anything. I feel ashamed of myself. What should I do in this situation?
Simon:
I’ve just started wearing braces, but I hate them. I don’t see any advantage in wearing them. My friends all laugh at me and say bad things about me. I feel embarrassed when I smile or open my mouth. The braces hurt my teeth, and it’s difficult for me to eat. I feel it was a mistake for my mother to make me wear these ugly braces. What do you suggest?
Julie:
I have to share a room with my seven-year-old sister, and she’s driving me mad! She has a habit of playing the piano when I’m studying, and she always takes my things without telling me. I try to keep the room tidy, but she always makes a mess. I love my sister, but sometimes she’s so annoying! What should I do?
Dear Anna,
You’re right to be worried about your friend Jolin. She shouldn’t stay on a diet if she’s already very thin. You should try to get her to see a doctor. You should also tell her that she’s not alone -- we all worry about our looks sometimes.
Dear Peter,
I believe you’ve learnt an important lesson -- you’ll regret it if you don’t do the right thing at the right moment. Next time in the same situation, you should make up your own mind. You shouldn’t listen to your friends. It was awful of them to laugh at a sick lady.
Dear Simon,
Lots of people wear braces these days, so you’re not alone. If you stop paying attention to your friends, they’ll stop laughing at you. So don’t worry! I understand that it hurts sometimes, but think of the beautiful, straight teeth you’ll have in a few months’ time!
Dear Julie,
You should talk to your sister more. Ask her to play the piano only when you’re not studying. Let her borrow your things only if she asks you first. Perhaps she just wants more attention from you. Try spending some time with her every day and you’ll both learn how to live happily with each other.
Agony aunts
In 1691, John Dutton in England had a problem, but he had no one to ask for advice. He thought that other people might be in a similar situation, so he began his own newspaper to give people advice. The newspaper proved to be quite successful, and soon many people started similar newspapers. Other newspapers also started to have advice columns. By 1740, however, most of the people giving advice were women. Today we call a person giving advice to readers in a newspaper or magazine an agony “aunt”.