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Q: i have this guy i go to school with that i have liked for a really long time. he has a girlfriend that goes to a different school not that far away. he and i have been friends for a long time but lately he has been very flirtatious and i can tell he likes me. i don't know what to do. i would like to have a relationship with him but i don't want to hurt this "other girl" or seem like i expect him to dump her for me. what do i do? should i tell him how i feel or let things go on the way they are? i am a 15 year old girl and he is also 15 and so is his girlfriend
If you have liked him for a long time, it is possible that he has felt the same way but never said anything. The best thing you cam do is just talk to him about it and be honest about how you feel. You may be suprised at the outcome. Find out I he really has feelings for you or if he is just being a player. It is very important to know the difference. If he does want to be in a realtionship with you, then he will have to prove it by letting the other girl go. DO NOT PLAY THE ROLE OF THE OTHER WOMAN. I can't stress that enough, he won't respect you the same way and you will also find yourself in her shoes down the line if you lead him to think that it is ok to indulge in that type of behavior. So, get to the truth and if it is real, get to making changes. If not, you can keep the friendship. If he is just flirty with lots of girls, you don't want to get your feelings hurt. And don't worry about hurting the other girls feelings if he does choose to be with you. If you are the one he really wants, you're doing her a favor by showing her his true intentions. Then she can find someone who really just wants her. It's difficult at first, but she will bounce back. Good luck!

Q: okay so i wasnt really dating this guy..we were kinda just talking and we had dated before and kinda just started right back where we left off and he explained to me that this time would be different and stuff..well after like 2 weeks i told him i wasnt going to date him again bc i didnt want to get played and hurt in the end and stuff and he heard that i only said all that stuff cause i liked someone else and he freaked out! he has anger problems. anyways that was sunday and today it tuesday and theres this ked that likes me and ive liked him for a long time and stuff and like we just started texting and he called me and stuff but anyways my kinda ex i guess lol heard that i like him and thinks that hes the reason i dont want to talk to him anymore and he says hes gunna beat this kid up and stuff and idk what to do to make him believe me that its not

You should speak to your kind of ex about how you honestly feel and hope that he is as mature as you are. I know exactly how you feel because I have also made a decision to leave someone and ended up having interest in someone else. It is difficult to get someone to understand that your choice is a personal one based on the fact they they ( your ex) just aren't right for you. It doesn't matter who you decide to see afterwards, they are just not your choice. You obviously care about him and don't want him to be hurt, so it is never about the other guy. All you can really do is try to get him to understand how you feel and why you chose not to be with him. Anyone you want to date is no longer his concern. Let him know that he will not gain any points by lashing out in violence towards the other guy. If he can't accept it, that will be his problem. Don't allow that or your happiness make you feel guilty or backslide from the decision you have made. Don't make it your problem because he will use it to try and manipulate you if he can. Guys that don't do right sometimes don't know to handle losing. You did your part by giving him another chance. If he didn't make good on the opportunity, it's his loss, his hurt feelings, and his problem. Don't worry about it. Enjoy your life, have fun and enjoy whoever you want to date. ; )

Q: we cheat? why do people cheat? is their any way to jusify cheating? i just want the people on advicenator and their imput on cheating. not just cheating is wrong and thats that. :) think more about it. thank you.
I think that cheating occurs for a number of reasons. Some people feel that there is a void in their relationship and instead of working it out with their mate, they cheat with someone else. Another reason people cheat is a lack of self control. Some people just cannot resist the temptation. Some do it for the thrill of tasting forbidden fruit so to speak. They think that their partner will never find out so, that don't think of the other person in the relationship. Another reason people cheat is because they are in a relationship with someone they do not trust. In a relationship like that, they tend to feel that they don't really have much to lose so they should have their fun. If a person has been cheated on and decided to stay with their cheating partner, they might cheat as well because of hurt feelings and or lack of trust that the other has really stopped cheating on them.I also think that people cheat when they have strong feelings for more than one person but they don't want to leave either of them. They feel torn, and before resolving the issue...they might cheat since they like both people in different ways. I think for people that are younger, they think that they look "cooler" if they are seen as a player, so those types will cheat not because they necessarily want to but for status. Lastly, some people end up in relationships that are not ready and willing to be committed to one person. Instead of being completely honest and mature about it, they may just hold on to the relationship hoping to never get caught. Once exposed for who they really are the other person in the realtionship will feel confused, hurt and betrayed.

Q: i am someone completly against cheating. my ex did it to be and i wouldnt listen to one word he would say and i just broke it off like that. i DISPISE cheating. but then i did it!!! i was with my recent boyfriend for only 3 1/2 months before i cheated on him. i dont know why i did it. i dont want to justify why i did it because i dont believe its right. but he found out (we are in a long distance relationship too). but like the usual person would say that they love them and want to be with them. and i should have thought of that before i did it, i know. we talked and its not that i cheated, its the fact that i liked that bugs him. we are over but he is willing to let me prove to him that i am not a liar or a cheater. but i dont know how to do it because i have never cheated on anyone. how do i prove to him he can trust me again and keep in mind we have a long distnace relationship. any advice asap would be appreciated.
Keep in mind that gaining trust is a process, don't expect too much too fast and be consistent. It is possible to repair things effectively but you have to stay dedicated and keep your eye on the prize in a sense. I think that a lot of people say they want to work on things and don't really realize the extreme effort it takes.

For starters, you will need to be emotionally available to this person. So for example: phone calls, late night chats, venting, shoulder to cry on etc. Always let him know how you feel about him, never make him guess. Whenever you leave your mate to draw their own conclusions, it tends to have some inaccuracies. You need to be very up front about everything...that includes your whereabouts and intentions. I know that it sounds a bit annoying, but in order to prove to someone that they can trust you....you have to show them that you have nothing to hide. Also, remember that we are all human and we make mistakes. Your boyfriend can not expect you to be perfect, but you need to be honest with him if it is going to work, especially when it is a long distance relationship as you are in. So, be honest about the good and bad. Don't try to make yourself seem perfect because that seems fake and it tends to make people lack trust in you rather than you gaining it. He will respect you for being up front and real. If he is willing to forgive you, then he has real feelings for you so you don't have to worry about them disappearing just because you messed up. You need to think about why you cheated and make a decision to work on filling any void that may have caused you to slip up. With long distance, it can be difficult but you can make the effort by keeping the contact between you continuous. You can do that thru emails, IM chats, or even something as small as a text message or MMS message with a flirty message or picture attached to it. Even if he only has a few moments to look at it, it will make him smile and you will be on his mind. Those small things will heighten your anticipation for each other. So, make an effort to communicate with him more so that he doesn't feel that you don't care (without smothering him though). If he calls you or sends you a message, return it as soon as you can so he doesn't feel blown off. As time passes, he may not forget but he will be over your mistake and the two of you can plan your future. Good Luck!!

Q: 16/f
Long story... Please read if your going to help me!

so there was this guy marcus who i liked and when i talked to him he invited me to hang out with him and his friends
so i went that weekend to the mall with them and had a blast! they were really cool
so marcus and i started talkin on the phone and eventually after like 2 weeks he asked me out and i said yes
so i was really happy and we hung out again
then he started going just a little too fast for me so i said we should be just friends
and its like, i still like him a little but its better this way
but then all of his friends said they dont want to hang out with me anymore now
so im a little sad but oh well
i start seeing him again at school and now hes really standoffish. i mean he still acts okay but hes really cold
but hes like a really cool guy
and i really still wanted to be friends with him but hes acting so uninterested in being my friend and everything
is there anything i should do or could do to have him warm up to me again as a friend? and how should i approach his friends too
thanks please help :[
I hate to say it, but most guys are immature at that age. You did the right thing by slowing him down and if he can't respect that, it's his loss. You are trying to be his friend and if he seems cold or standofish, forget him...it's his loss. You don't need a guy like that anyway because he would have only tried to use you to get what he wanted. It's ok to be nice to him but don't ever compromise your moral standard for a guy.... doing so will only leave you in regret. Also, if his friends don't wanna hang out with you now, they were never your real friends to begin with. Don't waste your time or energy on any of them. There will be someone who will adore you and treat you with the respect you deserve. In my opinion, you have done all you can so just leave it alone. He doesn't want something meaningful, he wants something fast.

Q: I'm a senior this year (woot woot!) and i have to do a project on the election. Me being only 17, i have no say in who our president will be for 4 years. One section of my project includes a survey. I have to briefly interview 40 individuals and record their choice for president and what they believe is the most important issue in the campaign. If you are 18+ would you mind answering those two questions? It would be very helpful. thanks =]
Jill
Obama has my vote in this election. He is the best candidate. Major issues in this election that concern the American people include the recession we are in, taxes for the middle class, healthcare and insurance as well as the lack of jobs in our struggling economy.

Q: 17/f. I dated a guy for about a month. He and I liked each other and we clicked, but we never get to see each other except on the weekends. So we've both been thinking that it wouldn't work out because of that, and very recently we decided to not date anymore because of it. We have a whole lot in common, but we just haven't been able to really get to know each other at all. I'm not mad at him about it because I agree with his reasoning. However, we both decided that we want to still be friends because we really do get along well... I'm just not sure how to do that. I'm frustrated at the situation because we only have like one mutual friend. So it's not like I can keep calling him or texting him all the time. I know it will take time, but I'm not sure how to be friends with him. Help?
It usually is difficult to remain friends with your ex if you can't get passed your feelings for him. The two of you ended on mutual terms, so there is no reason why you can't be friends though. You are going to have to maintain your self control and just be honest with him about your feelings. Who knows, maybe in 6 months or even a year the two of you could work things out or end up spending more time together. If you think the two of you will date other people, set boundaries so that you are not having uncomfortable conversations about girls he likes. It's really a tricky thing, but if you are serious about being friends with him give it a try and make an effort not to be jealous. It is possible that he could be a better friend than a boyfriend to you. If you discover that it really is over, you're gonna have to move on.

Q: Okay i am concerned that i havent had my period in almost two years but i dont want to go the Vagina doctor. I mean it would be smart but i guess i am just worried that i might have something wrong with me and i dont want to be told that i do. Could anyone give me an answer on why i would not have had it in two years?
*** I had it normally for a few years but then it just kinda stopped ****
I know that you do not want to see a doctor, but you really have no choice. Something could be wrong. People usually don't get periods because of pregnancy, poor diets or a tumor. You need to get checked out to be sure that there are no problems. I don't really understand why you would wait two years to see a doctor when you should be getting pap tests anually. Go get checked out, your body has begun letting you know that something is off by you not having a period. Don't ignore your body. I have no idea why you wouldn't want to see a doctor, but you will feel better once you know.

Q: ahhhh, well I feel so dysfunctional.

my peers have been showing an interest in becoming friends with me...and getting closer, you know...
but, I'm so awkward.

I'm too aware of my own actions. I exclude myself. When people go to take a picture...I jump out of the group because I feel like I'm just taking up space. It's like the light inside me is dim and I feel like I'm not a good contribution to others. I need confidence...
how do I find peace within myself?
It is ok that you feel awkward. You are going to feel better and good about yourself once you begin to accept being a little different. I don't feel like I have ever really fit into one group or another, but that just makes me different as well. What sets you apart from other people is one of the most beautiful things about being human. You are lucky to have friends that actually want to hang out. They obviously like you and Probly just wanna hang out and get to know you even better. You don't need to worry about being awkward, being who you are has gotten you friends that like to spend time with you. Just relax and be yourself and you don't need to jump out of the pictures. You have just as much importance as any of your peers so don't be afraid to make your mark. Embrace who you are, love yourself and the fact that you are different. Others will find it attractive and inspiring. You could actually cause some followers to have a mind of their own seeing how you don't conform. : )

Q: So i was at the doctors about two weeks ago getting an annual pelvic exam and my doctor said everything was fine but its just that i had a yest infection so she gave me a pill that i only had to take once and she said it would clear within 3 to 5 days..well it kinda went away but now the cottage cheese like discharge is back and i'm really irritated down there. I dont wanna waste another visit back there but is there anything i can do? Like something I can buy? Also, on my pelvic exam they found atypical cells and couldnt identify them so i have to go back in 3 to 6 months for another one but they dont know what the cells are and they don't want me to be worried but i kind of am..so just curious if this has happened to anyone else and if you could tell me what might happen? Thanks! By the way i am sexually active if that helps..
Ok,since your doctor has told you that you have a yeast infection you don't have to worry about it being anything else. You can go to your local drug store and pick up a box of the monistat. It comes in a 7day, 3day and 1day treatment. I reccomend buying the one day to just use it and get it over with. It is about $20 and it should clear up within a few days and you wont be irritated. About the cells, that has happened to atleast two females that I am close with. They are probably going to want to do a biopsy to get a better look at the cells. These screenings have become very important recently because doctors have found that some of these Atypical cells are coming from women coming into contact with the HPV(human papilloma virus). Don't panic, a lot of these cells actually clear up and go away on their own, but some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. There are a lot of people who have HPV and it doesnt make them feel different or anything but it can cause abnormal pap tests. You may not even have HPV and sometimes they do not know the cause of abnormal cells, but they will want to be sure if they can. Talk to your doctor about getting the Gardasil shot that protects women from most forms of HPV that cause cervical cancer. Just because you get abnormal paps does not mean you will get cervical cancer, but it is important to educate yourself on the facts. Get the shot and always protect yourself when having sex. Your abnormal cells could just go away on their own in months and you will be fine. Good luck.

Q: I'm 21/f, he's 23.
So, there's this guy. We dated for awhile, then "broke up" but didn't. He was a pretty awful boyfriend, but he's turned into my best friend. We went through a very rough patch, thanks to his family (they hate me), and I kicked him out of my life, kinda. After a week, he called me, begging for another chance (at being friends), which, after much discussing and debating, I gave him.
Since then, he's been the sweetest, most appreciative guy I've ever met. I thought I had begun to fall out of love with him, but now all those feelings are rushing back. He hugs me, he cuddles me, plays me love songs (he told me once that the music he listens to tends to reflect what he's feeling)...I feel safe and right in his arms.
I said we couldn't be as close as we had been, but I can't seem to keep my guard up now. We seem to be growing even closer than we were, and I'm...well, scared. I don't know if he's had some serious epiphany or what, but he's like a completely different person now...more like, he's turned back into the guy I fell in love with the first time.
I keep telling myself it won't last, but the thing is it has lasted. I'm afraid to take it for granted, and to let him in like I can feel myself doing.
What's worse is I don't know if it's me that's changed or him. I can't tell if I'm just handling things better, or he's giving me less to have to handle.
How do I keep my walls up? Do I need to keep my walls up? How do I figure out if it's me or him?
Thanks, everyone.
If you really care for him deeply, then let him in little by little. It seems that he is earning your trust back, so just give him the trust that he earns. It is natural to feel comfortable with him because you fell in love with him before. Don't be blinded this time by the feelings that you have for him, but embrace what you are feeling for what it is. If the two of you get to a point where you know that you want to be with eachother again and you will be happy together, consider yourself lucky. Not many guys change and if he hasn't time will give you that answer. I suggest that you enjoy being in this good place that you are in and take your time with it. This could be the chance for love that the two of you always wanted before but wasn't able to get right the first time. If he does change back to his old self, don't beat yourself up about it....just move forward with your life and know that you gave it your all. I know that you are nervous about letting your guard down, but treat him the way you feel he desrves to be treated by you. people never change because someone else wants them to, so if he has its because he really wants to be better for you. Be patient and enjoy, move slowly, there's no need to dive right in. It doesn't sound like he's going anywhere.

Q: my boyfriend (20) and i (18) will be together for 4 months on oct. 30. he wants to go to a halloween party, well just any party. i doubt we will dress up but i have never been to a party with him and i wont know anyone there. he thinks that i just dont like going to parties with him because i tell him no more then once now. i do want too but i dont want him thinking im too shy i guess. i have a hard time talking to ppl so at a party it will be harder and i dont want to be by his side 24-7. along with that ive been to some parties mainly just kickbacks, im not a big partier. the drinking isnt a problem because i dont mind saying no, its just meeting people and talking to them and keeping a conversation going. and i believe that partys i have been to are nothing like the ones he goes to because i only party with close friends. sorry i know this is long but i had to explain my situation well enough. so thank you for reading and the advice.
I know how you feel because I used to be shy and I would avoid parties when I was younger. My friends would never believe that now because I've become a regular party animal. If you want to become comfortable in these types of social situations you have to get out there and you will get used to it. You will become more comfortable each time you go out. Since you don't want to be there not knowing anyone it might be a good idea to invite another couple that you like to go along with you. You could even invite a couple of your own friends. There is nothing wrong with that and people do it all the time. You will have more fun. Also, be inviting to others at the party and smile and make eye contact. If they are his friends you will probably see them again so it will be good to make your first impression a friendly one. Always be yourself, don't ever feel like you need to try and fit in. It sounds like you are a strong individual and everyone has their own anxieties so just get out there and have fun, relax and be you.

Q: when me and my boyfriend makeout, its always regular kissing with a bit of french. what can we do to change it up a bit?
Sometimes making out from your head to your toes can really heat things up. Try kissing on some other areas of the face. A gentle massage while sensually kissing is passionate. One thing that you may not even pay attention to are your hands and feet. If you lock hands and toes you will feel more connected to one another. Close your eyes and just really let go. Caution: this can lead to other pleasureful behaviors so be careful lol. Just let go and do what comes natural, it will be exciting and fun.

Q: does it hurt to get your tongue pierced?

is there any places that like freeze it or numb it so it doesn't hurt?
in MASS

and can you bring someone over 18 to sign for you, even if they're not related?
I have had my tongue pierced twice and it does hurt, but the piercing is done so quickly that it is over before you can really hang on to the pain. You just need to bring a friend or someone who makes you feel comfortable. Choose a focal point and try to relax. It is done before you know it. Afterward it gets sore and your tongue swells a little. After a couple of weeks it won't be sore and you will love it. You MUST keep it clean and take care of the piercing to prevent infection. There will have to be a parent/ guardian if you are not 18.

Q: So i recently sold almost alllll of my shirt(keep in mind that I had a lot...), meaning I made about $400! Anyways, I didnt really like my wardrobe then, because I really only like to wear my Ed Hardy, Free People, and BCBG shirts (which I probably have about 5 of each)
Anyways, I decided I'm going to buy a completely basically new wardrobe, and so I will be buying mostly these brands, but what are some other good name brand shirts I could get? Just shirts-I'm set with jeans. (By the way, money isn't too much of a problem because Ive got friends that can get me big discounts at places like bloomis and such)
Thanks :)
Lucky Brand,banana Republic,Bailey44,William Rast, Bebe, Arden B
Let me know if you need anything more ; )

Q: alright so heres the thing i had sex with my boyfriend aug 28th(condom broke) and 4 days after my missed period, i thought i got it although now im not sure if it was my period i mean it lasted four 4days it wasn't "light" but it wasn't "heavy either" and the first day was sept 14 i got it on to the 17 and now like this last week at school people said that " i was eating fast" like i didnt even notice it but it was happening all week and today i got acid reflex well i have never had that in my life so its just weird .. and my boobs are pretty sore .is it in my head? or could i really be pregnant? 16.f btw
Sometimes when we believe that something is happening to us, our minds can have a way of creating confirmations for us. You could in fact be experiencing legitimate symptoms, but it is possible that it is all in your mind. There are many women that do not have any symptoms of pregnancy and don't know that they are for months. Since you know that there is a possibility, it is good that you are aware of your body and your cycle. The best thing you can do is take a pregnancy test to know for sure. It is possible so you just want to take one so that you don't have to keep worrying in suspense.

Q: i believe in fate.....but i am not sure what's going on today.. lately i can't stop thinking about this guy who asked me out a while back... i mean we barely spoke or anything (i mean i saw him once and said hello and that was it and i guess i left an impression) i met him through my sister. she's really good friends with his other siblings... anyway so i said i wasnt sure and what not but he kept pursuing... i didn't have a reason why i didn't want to go with it it's just i was reluctant and needed more time to know him (we barely spoke and when we had the chance i froze up and didn't say a word!) so then about 4 months after that (when things went dead and i stopped hearing from him) he added me on facebook.... but here's the deal he added me almost a year a go and not one word has been said between us! what should i do? is there an opportunity here or am i just fantasizing??

i come from a culture where traditionally, your supposed to act, in a way, prudish... or sort of bashful and reticent.... but i am not sure if that's how i want to deal with him (especially if he's possibly the one! i am only that with my family)... i know he wants some culture in his girl but i don't think he wants a very conservative person... his sister and my sister are quite conservative and mine was pushing me to do the same ... which is kind of the reason i went along with her hard to get scheme... so i am not sure what to do... i keep thinking of the what ifs ... but i don't want to take the risk and screw things up by being daring and messaging him via facebook... i don't want to take the risk of him reading this wrong (as i want to show him that i really am just shy but am not conservative when it comes to family and their friends! and that i am looking for something serious not a joke!) in same time i don't want my sister (or his sister because she'll tell mine) to know what is going on... because she'll panic and put a strain on her friendship and my potential relationship....

i mean i am sure he's confused... with friend (which he could see through facebook!) i am rather open and silly and just myself... but with people that know me through my family, or with my family i am very very alert and cautious (reputation and demeanor is everything)

what should i do exactly!? someone please help i am new to all this!
With most people, sending a message on facebok is a casual thing. people are also somewhat lose about they add to their friends list, but I believe that he added you hoping that you would say something to him. If he wasn't interested in talking to you at all he would not have added you. Since you are very cautious with family and others associated I can understand that you want to be careful what type of message you send. If you are intereested in something serious, you should try talking to him on the phone and eventually get to a point where the two of you are hanging out. Since it has been a while though, sending him a message on facebook is a good way to start. It won't be a face to face thing, so you can relax and be casual.See what he says back and you will probably feel better. Once the subject comes up you can just explain your situation to him. Playing hard to get is ok sometimes, but if it has been a year and you are obviously making no progress, its time to try something different. You don't need to completely throw away who you are, but find a happy medium.

Q: alrite so what happend was i went to school for the first day , and usually i hang out with my 3 besties, what happend was they seperated me and one of my friends and the other 2 [Which are twins] in another class so we wer all pissed about it, but what happend was they said that we wer able to switch to go to the twins classes, and they wanted us to be with them cause they had no fun all alone, the guy i like is in my class
we barely talk but we do sometimes i like him alot really so today i switched to the twins class..do you think that was the right thing to do?
cause friendhship always comes first,, and ilove my friends alot, but then i rlly like this kid, i feel kinda sad leaving my class but i know that hes still across the hall so ill see him and be able to say hey nd stuff, so dont you think i did the right thing?..
you did the right thing if that is what will make you happy. Being with your friends is what you want anyway. Like you said, you can see him at lunch or at other times. You would probably rather being with them anyway incase you and him have a problem and he starts to treat you differently. If you were in his class then, you would be even more miserable knowing you didn't choose to go with them. You have your best friends, so you will be fine and you will be that much more excited to see him once you get out of class.

Q: Good Morning, I am from South Africa. I would like to know if I am turning into an abusive partner because of control issues by my partner.
When we met a year ago I was a smoker, I had a large group of friends. A year later I have only 2 friends, smoke less and dont go out often. Basically the problem is as such... My partner insists on keeping my bank cards, wont let me leave the house to go shopping alone, blocks the driveway with his car so i cannot get out.I may not go to my family unless he is with me, insists he takes me to work and insists on collecting me afterwards. Continually says he loves me and if i dont answer will carry on calling my cell phone untill I respond. I get around 30 missed calls a day. I am 37,male, but look 25, he is 21,male and styding. I retaliated over the weekend and got physical when he refused to let me go to my sisters party. It resulted in a huge fight and i feel really bad. Am I abusive and am I wrong in saying that I am being controlled. I just have spoken to him about this but he alsways says its because he loves me I dont much free choice anymore or alone time. Any Suggestions?
From reading this I wouldn't say that you are abusive. Anyone that is pushed too far will react in a big way. I do feel as if your partner is too controlling. It is good that you recognize that because a lot of people will just make excuses for their partner. I'm not sure exactly why and I'm not sure my speculation would help you much, but your partner is insecure. It is very difficult to be with someone who is that insecure because no matter what you do, they are insatiable. Most of the time it doesn't work out unless the couple can come to an agreement. You feel bad because you reacted forcefully so you should apologize. You will feel better, but you also need to sit down and talktp your partner about how you have been feeling. Let him know that you will not tolerate being controlled any longer. If your partner has a problem with that the two of you will have to go your separate ways. You make sure that you are in control of your behavior and do not become violent. Tell your partner what you need and accept nothing less than that respect. He needs to respect you by giving you the space you deserve as a human, and you need to respect him by keeping your hands to yourself. If you don't try to resolve the issue, leaving things the way they are could mean that you finally get angry enough to really hurt him. So, you are not wrong, just work on the relationship.

Q: In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, September 18, 2008, the results of a new survey about the use of social networking sites and the impact this has on college admissions are addressed. As previously discussed in our presentations, we encourage students to review their Facebook and MySpace accounts using this guideline: "if there is something posted there (pictures, words, comments, quotes) that you wouldn't want anyone and everyone to see, then don't post it!" "This survey of 500 top colleges found that 10% of admissions officers acknowledged looking at social-networking sites to evaluate applicants. Of those colleges making use of the online information, 38% said that what they saw 'negatively affected' their views of the applicant." (Wall Street Journal, 9/18/08). Please request a 'review' of your child's site. If they don't want you to see it, I would imagine they wouldn't want an admissions official to see it!


on facebook cant employers only really see your picture? theyd have to be on your network to see your profile.. so just profile pic needs to be safe, right? and besides some people make themselves invisible and not in search engine or make a question mark for a picture.. how come people forget that?
What you are saying is true; people have to be in your network in order to see your profile. Even then you can adjust your privacy settings so that only your friends can view your profile. So, they would only see your picture, name and network. You can also, as you said make yourself unsearchable to staff of companies, everyone or just networks outside of your own. With all of the privacy settings that facebook has in place you don't even have to allow others to see your profile picture, or you can make it so that only your friends can see it. So, basically as long as you only add people that you choose or know as a friend you are fine and could be invisible if you want to be. I use social networks all the time, so I'm telling you because I have maneuvered all of the options I've mentioned above.

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Jami

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I believe in telling the truth, so I will be honest with you. I also believe that when it comes to respect...reciprocity is key!
Any question that rests on your head is one worth asking.



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