A PIECE OF ADVICE ON ADVICE

There’s something devilishly enjoyable in reading about other people’s problems. And given the plethora of those pursuing advice online, the schadenfreude-seeker will find no shortage of joy on the Internet. But another source of hilarity is the variance in advice. Whether from popular columns like Ask Prudence or forums like Reddit, the same inquiry gets can receive vastly different answers. Let’s take a look.

Q How do you tell someone they have bad breath?

Halitosis plagues about half of all Canadians. Starshine Roshell, former advice columnist for The Week, advised telling someone tactfully by offering a mint or breath strip, a subtle hint that won’t offend the foulmouthed friend. But the Yahoo! Answers community offered a different take: “Explore their mouth and say, ‘I think you are going to get an ulcer shortly ... it would be wise for you to speak less.’” I’m sure the bad-breathed bandit will understand they’re the one with a problem after you’ve conducted an unsolicited oral exam.

Q How do you get over a breakup?

A reader of New York magazine’s Dear Polly who recently broke up with a boyfriend and was so devastated that even yoga wasn’t helping, begged Polly to “help her move on.” Polly told her to “honour” her sadness, and trust that it will soon pass, while using loneliness to motivate positive inward change. Namaste.

A Reddit user had a different suggestion based on first-hand experience. “I used his personal details to sign him up to a bunch of spam websites,” she wrote, “and I’m the only person who can call them off because I have the password.” Evil, or genius?

Q How do you deal with messy roommates?

Roommates – can’t live with them, often can’t afford to live without them. Slate’s Dear Prudence advised chore charts, delegating cleaning tasks and even hiring a cleaning service.

Ask MetaFilter was less diplomatic on a similar question. “Evict the bastards,” a user wrote. “In the meantime, confiscate anything left lying around unwashed, wash it, hide it, and deny all knowledge of its whereabouts.”

Sure, getting advice is easier than ever, but it doesn’t always mean it’s good advice.

Maybe the best plan would be to stick to private sessions with a therapist, and failing that, there’s always Siri.