A recent Dear Abby column highlights three letters from readers that illuminate contemporary culture and personal challenges, from adult responsibility to loneliness and romantic patterns. The syndicated advice feature, written by Abigail Van Buren (Jeanne Phillips) and distributed across newspapers, continues to shape how readers think about work, education, and relationships.
CAN'T BELIEVE HIM IN CALIFORNIA describes a 40-year-old son who lies about having a job. He intermittently reports to work, then comes and goes without verifiable income, and eventually acknowledges he does not have employment. The parents say the son is kind but untruthful and have asked how to live with a liar and push him toward independence. Abby’s guidance centers on setting firm boundaries: if the household is subsidizing the son’s living arrangement, financial support should end or be contingent on verifiable job-search progress. A counseling option may help address the pattern of deception, but the column underscores that real change is unlikely without consequences and a clear move-out deadline.
LOST CAUSE IN GEORGIA presents a 29-year-old on the autism spectrum who lives with his parents and works full time, contributing financially where he can. He wants to return to college but worries about whether it is worth the effort, and he has felt increasingly isolated after his two best friends stopped staying in touch. Abby’s reply encourages exploring education if it would enhance career opportunities, and emphasizes getting out into activities aligned with personal interests to meet like-minded people. Loneliness in this context may signal depression, but the response reassures the writer that being 29, on the spectrum, and unmarried is not a lost cause and that there is still hope.
MR. FIX-IT IN ILLINOIS explains a pattern of romantic disappointment in which the writer ends up emotionally exhausted by relationships with women who are