Ask Annie

Ask Annie for Feb. 18, 2004

Dear Annie,

Boy, did I mess up! I got an e-mail from a friend, and I thought it was a forward, but it wasn't! My friend had actually written this his self, and I sent it to everyone in my contacts list with a disclaimer, pointing out an error in logic I'd found in it! Now my friend is very upset with me, and wants me to send all of those people a note explaining that he was right, and I was wrong. Only I wasn't.

Mariners Fan, Orting, WA

Dear Fan,

First let me explain to readers who might not be so computer savvy that a "forward" is an essay or photo passed from one person to another via e-mail. Forwards are informative, humorous, or, after we were attacked by terrorists, patriotic. Forwards rarely have a by-line, so it's hard to tell where they originated, or with whom. Fan, you don't have to e-mail all of your contacts and tell them you were wrong on your point of reason if you weren't. I would apologize to the offended friend and tell him you certainly didn't mean to slight him, but that you don't want to tell everyone in your address book you were wrong, when you weren't. This might not be enough to pacify his bruised ego, but it's the truth, and he'll have to learn to live with it. It was an unfortunate incident, but you weren't trying to hurt anybody. I hope you two can maintain your friendship and get over this.

Annie

Dear Annie,

Enough on how to keep deer out of your yard. What about slugs?

Rick in Randle, WA

Dear Rick,

The best slug repellent I've seen are ducks. They gobble slugs down. But then you've got duck deposits all over your lawn. Readers?

Annie

Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328

E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com

Past Ask Annies:

Feb. 11, 2004 Messy Roommate

Feb. 18, 2004 Forwarded and Criticized Attachment Then Found Out It Was Written By The Sender, A Friend

Feb. 11, 2004 Messy Roommate

Feb. 4, 2004 Son a moron? No!

Jan. 28, 2004 Bad Phone Manners

Jan. 21, 2004 Avoid Church Because of Flu?

Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life

Jan. 7, 2004 Master Tinseller

Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents

Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?

Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers

Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays

Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates

Nov. 19, 2003 Mom Feels Daughter Doesn't Change Baby Diaper Quickly Enough, also Donate Pet Food and Hygiene Items to Food Bank

Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife

Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement

Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?

Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?

Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness

Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30

Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner

Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive

Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay

Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk

Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers

Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense

Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness

Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints

Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work

July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes

July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too

July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice

July 9, 2003 Camper Littering

July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler

June 25, 2003 Library Newsletter Omitted Packwood Library

June 18, 2003 Thank Troops for Freedom