The+Outsiders+Advice+Intro+&+Examples

Pauline Esther Friedman, had never written professionally until 1956 when she contacted the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and said she could write a better advice column than the one currently appearing in that paper. The editor invited her for an interview and asked her to compose some responses to letters the paper had received. The editor liked her replies, and using the name “Abigail Van Buren” she began answering letters to “Dear Abby.” The column was an instant success and was syndicated in two months. Today it is among the most widely syndicated newspaper columns in the world. Van Buren has also written four best sellers. Her twin sister, Esther Pauline, also became an advice columnist, writing under the name “Ann Landers.” Her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, became Abigail Van Buren and took over the “Dear Abby” column when Friedman's health declined. (Information from infoplease website.) Here are some sample letters:

DEAR ABBY, I am a 12-year-old, and I'm not pretty. I just started seventh grade, and I have noticed that people date each other based completely on looks. I think that's superficial, and I wouldn't want to date someone just because of it. The sad thing is, everybody does it. People are passed over because of their looks who may actually be nice people inside. I don't understand why people judge me based on what my parents gave me -- like my eyes or the shape of my lips. I mean, I know I could change my hair or wear makeup, but I can't change my genetics. Suggestions? -- PLAIN OLD ME IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR PLAIN OLD YOU: Absolutely. Good looks can be an asset. However, before you put yourself down anymore about what you inherited from your parents, it's important that you give yourself a reality check. Their appearance didn't prevent them from finding each other attractive and falling in love. Also, it takes some people longer to mature into their final "product" than it does others. In other words, the way you look now at age 12 isn't necessarily the way you will look by the middle or end of your teens. While I believe that each generation is becoming more beautiful than the one before, not everyone will be a classic beauty. And beauty is a trait that's notorious for its short shelf life. That's why it is so important to develop your personality and your mind, so you will have tools for success later in life. This is the time you should do it, instead of worrying about who is dating whom in seventh grade. Believe me, your classmates' tastes will change -- and so will yours. That's what growing is all about. It's far more important to concentrate on what you can do to better the world you live in than it is to worry that you might not be beautiful enough. When the right person comes along, he will be more interested in a collaborator than a trophy. Trust me on that, because it's the truth. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DEAR ABBY: I am an 11-year-old girl. My mommy was diagnosed with MS a few months ago. I would like to help the hospital raise money to find a cure to fix her and others like her.

Ten percent of my bat mitzvah money is going to find a cure for MS. My sister says it's a stupid idea because if there was a cure they would have already found one. Do you think I'm doing the right thing? -- WANTS TO FIX MOMMY

DEAR WANTS: You're doing a wise and wonderful thing. If the medical community thought the way your sister does, they would still be hitting people on the head with rocks in order to anesthetize them for surgery, and none of the miraculous medical advances of the last 100 years would have come about. The answer to diseases like your mother's lies in research -- and research costs money. Please don't let yourself be intimidated. Your instincts are excellent. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DEAR ABBY: I'm 15 and I detest my best friend's boyfriend, "Chip." He is blatant about his opinions, whether or not people want to hear them. All of "Sadie's" other friends agree he's a complete jerk, and not only that, he takes up all her time.

Sadie is smart. She realizes Chip has those traits. Somehow she doesn't care about his defects and looks past them. I'm not really scared for her safety. Chip seems to be nice to her. I can't stand to be around the guy, but that means I don't get to talk to my best friend most of the time. I am trying to be nice to Chip, and I have talked to Sadie about this, but nothing works! Please help. I'm at the end of my rope. -- DIVIDED FRIEND IN SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.

DEAR DIVIDED FRIEND: Accept the fact that your friend is distracted right now, and concentrate on your relationship with the other girls in your group. You might be able to arrange some alone time with Sadie if you invite her for a sleepover once in a while -- but understand that her main focus is on her boyfriend. Until Sadie realizes for herself that Chip's attitude and behavior are an embarrassment and a reflection on her, this situation won't change.