DR. WALLACE: I've noticed that many companies design their advertising to attract teens. Why is this? We have money to spend, but not that much. There must be a reason teens are attractive to people who want to make profits. — Connie, Naperville, IL.
CONNIE: You are a perceptive young woman. Advertisers aim at teens because teens have great influence on family purchases. Marketing research indicates that 70 percent of all teens do some family shopping, with 5 percent doing almost all of it (with their parents' money). Teens also often make decisions on what specific brands or label are purchased for themselves or the greater household.
Manufacturers are well aware of teen buying power. They are also aware that teens soon become adults and if they buy "Brand X" as a teen, chances are good they will buy it as an adult, too.
DUMP HIM AND DON'T LOOK BACK
DR. WALLACE: A guy I was dating shoved me last night. We had a disagreement and he got really mad and pushed me really hard into a table at a fast food restaurant. I bumped the side of my face and it got swollen. I was shocked this happened and after a few minutes he apologized to me and said it would never happen again. Now that I've had time to think about it, I was the one who was in the wrong since I probably caused the disagreement that we were arguing about in the first place.
My roommate was furious when I told her what happened after I got home. My cheek was still pretty swollen so she put ice on it to keep the swelling down. Today most of the swelling is gone, but I do have a red mark where I hit the table. My roommate is adamant that I stop dating this guy because he showed his true self when he got physical with me in a fit of anger. I do like (love) him. What to do now? — Anonymous, Denver, Co.
ANONYMOUS: This is my only advice, and I am adamant about it — dump him and don't ever look back.
NO DINNER UNTIL HE IS LEGALLY UNATTACHED
DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and work for a large insurance company in a big city. It's a good job and I enjoy working here. Justin is a 24-year-old married guy who also works in our office. He's super nice. We usually share our break and lunch together. Justin has told me that he knows that his wife has been cheating on him, not only with one, but two guys. He keeps asking me what he should do, but all I can say is that he should divorce her and he always says that, "It's not that easy."
Last night he asked me if I would go out to dinner with him in the near future. I told him that I would think about it. I like Justin and could consider starting a serious relationship with him if he was not married - but he is.
Should I go out with him? I think it would be all right because it would not be anything more than just having dinner with him. But even if this could be considered to be a date, Justin wouldn't be doing anything worse than his wife is doing. Your advice, please! — Anonymous, via email
ANONYMOUS: Having dinner with Justin could be the beginning of a relationship that is not acceptable. If, indeed, his wife is cheating on him, he needs to take steps to get his marriage either ended or annulled. Only if he becomes legally unattached should an evening of dinner with him become an event you could attend in good faith and conscience.
Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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