Parents who let kids cheat are no help
Dear Abby: I was raised from an early age that if you play a game, you have to play fair and obey the rules. Those rules were never bent regardless of what the game was or who we played with.
A couple I know allow their children to play games with adults and let them cheat. What they’re doing is obvious, and their parents even joke about it. I no longer enjoy playing with this family, but I don’t know what to do or say. I have tried to subtly discourage and stop the deceptions, but I don’t want to seem like a sore loser. Any suggestions?
—Plays By the Rules, Urbana, Ohio
Dear Plays By the Rules: Yes. Do not play games with the family if the children are involved. It’s not about being a sore loser; it’s about not being a chump. By allowing their children to ignore the “rules,” these parents are sending the message that rules don’t apply to them. Because the children cheat when they play with you, it’s safe to assume that they think it’s acceptable to do it with other kids. And when their contemporaries realize what’s going on, who do you think won’t be allowed to join their games—or anything else? Look at it this way: From little cheaters, big cheaters grow.
Resist “getting cute”
Dear Abby: Myco-worker has the same last name as a deceased porn star. We work in customer service together, and she gets many suggestive comments and laughs from our male customers. She would like to respond with a witty comeback without being offensive or jeopardizing her job. Any suggestions?
—Friend of Lovelace
Dear Friend: While it may be tempting for your co-worker to respond with a witty comeback, she should play it smart and resist the urge to acknowledge her male customers’ attempts at humor. Once she starts “getting cute,” it will only encourage more of the same.
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