Trapped, the woman whose husband can no longer have sex, continues to receive advice from readers, some of whom agree with me. I told Trapped that if my best friend were in her position I'd tell her to have an affair. Some of you thought I was working for Satan.

HOLDEN: Just because all the huffy prudes write to you in indignation, sputtering saliva onto their computer screens, doesn't mean that that comprises peoples' actual responses in the real world.

Even though the thought of an affair causes a wave of dismay to wash through me — a single person — so does the thought of serious illness, terminal illness and injury. Yet these things happen. At least you printed all of two sensible, splutter-free responses from people who replied with the calm reasoning that while the solution of an affair is emotionally fraught it is an option.

Ann Landers knew she would catch hell in the 60s and 70s for recommending masturbation. You have done something similar by calmly posing an affair as a possibility.

I will speak to the people who replied to you while they (and their saliva) were whipped up in a froth: We now know from seeing famous preachers and politicians in the news that the ones who protest too much have done it themselves. You all are probably unhappy that someone might get away with something you can't get away with.

At the very least you're reacting with your glands and your emotions, while your cerebral cortex remains disengaged. And you're doing this to force not your own actions but someone else's.

And one sarcastic rejoinder: Someday the flighty singles, paramours, mistresses and secret lovers will wise up and settle down for real happiness just like all you married people have done. All I'm doing is holding a mirror up to hypocrites.

ROSEMARY: You blew it big time with suggesting this poor woman have an affair! She said that she cheated on her first husband! Evidently you are not a victim of infidelity. My husband had an affair for eight years while I was going through menopause and had no desire to have sex. Finding that out and dealing with it has been the most traumatic thing I have ever had to go through.

Don't forget that Trapped would be breaking one of the Ten Commandments. I think you should have suggested trying therapy again and again and again.

ANDREA: Trapped does NOT need to have an affair! There are other ways for her to achieve satisfaction: toys, hands, mouths and extra cuddling and touching.

Do you have advice for Trapped?

Got a problem? Send it, along with your questions and rants to [email protected]. And check out my e-book, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front."