Man’s internet addictionmakes woman a ‘widow’
DEARABBY » I realize that social media is a big part of today’s world, and I have no problem with someone using it to stay in contact with family and friends. But at what point is it deemed an addiction?
My significant other spends hours every day scrolling through his Facebook and Twitter pages. I have tried discussing it with him, but it becomes an argument. Now I just sit in the same roomwith him, silent and waiting until it’s my turn for his attention. How can I get him to realize how isolated from him it makes me feel and that my presence doesn’t seem to be needed?
Bridge
Winthrop Mackworth Praed, a 19th-century English politician and poet, wrote, “His partners at the whist-club said that he was faultless in his dealings.”
Someone who is nearfaultless at a bridge club will be in big demand as a partner. One aspect of that faultlessness is thinking about partner’s problems in a deal. How should the defenders have defeated four spades in today’s deal? West led the diamond seven: two, nine, ace. Declarer ruffed the diamond eight on the board and played a trump. When East failed to follow suit, South played his 10. How shouldWest have proceeded from there?
Some Wests would have made a takeout double over one spade, but that would have risked playing
Should I just accept that he’s an addict and move on?
DEAROFFLINE » Something becomes an addiction when it causes a disruption in one’s life. Your significant other isn’t the first person to have been seduced by the internet. He may argue with you because he doesn’t realize the amount of time he spends glued to his screen.
Try this: Quietly clock the time he’s on FB and Twitter for one week. Afterward, ask him if he realizes how much time he is spending there. He may be shocked when you read him the number of in a 4-2 diamond fit. The North hand has only eight losers: three spades, two hearts, one diamond and two clubs. This is the number for a three-spade game-invitational limit raise. But North did not look further than his 7 hours. That’s the time to express how isolated and unneeded this has made you feel.
Discuss making a
“date” for the two of you to get out of the house as a couple on a regular basis to take a walk, go to the park or have socially distanced coffee somewhere, which may interrupt his habit and enable you to enjoy some time together when you are both fully present. But if he isn’t interested, you may have to decide if you want to continue being his lady-inwaiting. high-card points. No problem, though, as South easily had enough to bid game.
At the time, West won with his spade king, cashed the club ace and played another club. East took that trick and, thinking that partnerwas now out of clubs, led his last club. South ruffed high, drew trumps ending on the board and discarded his heart loser on the club queen.
Probably East should have found the winning defense becauseWest rated not to have started with 4-5-2-2 distribution. ButWest was primarily at fault. He knew the position. After taking the club ace and before leading the second club, he should have cashed the heart ace.