Hurt turns into anger after video games consume reader’s boyfriend

Dear Abby: I am tired of taking a backseat to my boyfriend’s video game addiction. He comes home from work, sits on the couch and gets lost in his video games. It has gotten to the point where he barely speaks to me or even looks up from his game. I know he chats with a lot of people, both male and female, on these games. I suspect he has inappropriate conversations that he feels are harmless because he won’t meet these people in person.

Constantly being ignored is hurting my feelings. I’m starting to feel resentful, lonely and very angry. Please advise me on what to do.

— Angry In Oklahoma

Dear Angry: Your boyfriend may or may not be a video game addict. My advice? Give him an ultimatum: Modify his behavior or else, and if he refuses, end the romance before he damages your self-esteem. Being ignored has been known to do that. Trust me.

Dear Abby: I am a female and my male friend, “Sam,” is recently engaged to be married. I talk to him daily and invite him out to dinner sometimes. Sam’s fiancee, “Felicia,” has expressed to both of us that she’s uncomfortable with our relationship. She asked us to set “boundaries,” but I feel Sam is my friend and friends shouldn’t have boundaries. When I asked him out to dinner against her wishes, she became irate. Do you think I’m disrespecting their relationship? What should I do?

— Forever Friend In

Chicago

Dear Friend: It is a mistake not to recognize that Sam’s status has changed. If you value your friendship with him, you must start respecting the fact that he’s now engaged and do as his fiancee has requested.