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Dear Penguin and Cricket - March 2003

Dear Cricket & Pengie,
My friend chooses her boyfriend over me all the time. Does this mean she isn’t my friend anymore?
Friendless in Georgia

Dear Friendless,
No, it doesn’t mean that. It just means that she is in lust with this guy. If she does it a lot, just talk to her about it or find yourself a boyfriend and you can all do something together.
Cricket

Dear Friendless,
Your friend is still your friend. She has gotten caught up in something new. Similar to the thrill of getting a new pet, you spend a lot of time with it and then it settles down into evening out. Once the thrill is gone, your friend will include you in things again. Have you told her how you feel? She might not know you are feeling left out if you haven’t told her. Do you have a boyfriend also? If so, you can all do something together or tell her you would like for just you and she to do something once in a while. I am sure that you have other friends that you can spend time with when she has her time with him. Nourish those friendships during that time. Good Luck
Pengie

Dear Cricket & Pengie,
I have been writing this guy on the internet for a long time and we talk online too. He wants me to call him. I feel like I know him and feel he is my boyfriend. My mom says I can’t call him or give him my number. It can’t hurt to talk on the phone can it? I think my mother is just being paranoid.
Paranoid Parent Prisoner

Dear Paranoid,
There are a lot of scary people in this world and for all you know, this guy could be 50 or even 60 years old. I would not call him if I were you. I think it is a bad idea.
Cricket

Dear Paranoid Parent Prisoner,
I don’t think your mom is being paranoid. I think she loves you and just wants you to be safe. There are a lot of people out there that want to hurt others and you honestly have no way of confirming that this person is who he says he is. People in chat rooms are strangers & are not always who they say they are. You should never give out any personal information, including your real name, address, school, or other “clues” which might allow someone to locate them such as your jersey number. You can read some internet safety tips at http://www.wiredkids.org/resources/documents/safety_faqs.html and I recommend you read the story about “Tiffany” and how easily she was tracked down from someone she thought was a friend at http://www.wiredkids.org/safety/tiffany.html

Pengie

Dear Cricket & Pengie,
My coach told me that I was a really good soccer player. They have told me that I could make it in the big time. I would have to quit school to train. My family thinks I should put it off but I think I am going to do it.
Soccer Superstar

Dear Soccer,
Why don’t you try to do both of them but if you can’t, I would stay in school so you can get on even better pro teams. With no education you won’t get anywhere.
Cricket

Dear Soccer,
I think you need to stay in school and finish your education. You did not say how old you are so I don’t know if you are in high school or college. You should definitely finish your education before playing soccer. If you are adamant about playing, there are lots of options to traditional schooling. There are classes’ online, video classes, tutors, etc. Hopefully nothing would ever happen to you but what would you do with your life if you got injured and could no longer play soccer? That is something you need to think about.
Pengie