I wonder if you could help me. I have a friend we'll call George. He has a "personal hygiene" issue that is interfering with his social development. To put it succinctly, he passes gas. Not every single day, mind you, but a lot, and when the "airs" are blowing the wrong way, you just can't stand being around him. I didn't know him when he was younger, but people say it used to be even worse.
He's aware of the problem, and the doctors tell him it's not dangerous. But it sure limits his social prospects. You won't believe this, but a famous world-traveller (ok, a comedian) remembered George - but only as the single worst person he had ever met anywhere in the world. I'm sure he wasn't thinking of how dusty George is. It's gotten to where people who have never met George say they don't want to visit him - his reputation is the pits. It must destroy your self-esteem when you're told over and over again that you stink...
The good news is George is thinking about university and how to attract long-term partners ... it's time to grow up. He's trying to get some treatment, but I worry about the level of his commitment - real change won't be easy or cheap.
Of course, money is an issue. As it is, George has to pay people to be his friends - so naturally they're not going to tell him the truth. It's a "mutual admiration society" where people who rely on George don't want to talk about the problem. The truth is he's losing opportunities by not dealing with the smell. New friends usually put up with him for a couple years and then move on.
Love the stinker; hate the stench? I love George and want him to be more than a fart trapped in a bowl. George would benefit a lot from real, long-term friends who settle down and start families. Old-fashioned thinking is holding him back. Can you help George see himself as a good catch, before he blows away all his good prospects?
Dave Tamblyn
Prince George
