Weekly Piece of Advice

"The one who neglects his body is fat. The one who neglects his mind is an idiot. But the worst offender is the one who neglects his soul. He can barely be called human at all."

Weekly Piece of Advice - Plagiarism Edition

So I just got plagiarized by some tryhard kid who apparently can't be original. The funny part is he copied me word for word. Plagiarism 101: paraphrase, or at least change a word or two so you can attempt to defend yourself. This week's advice deals with plagiarism and how you can keep what you wrote yours:

"When on the internet, always post on sites with timestamps and make sure you can prove you wrote it (no anonymous bullshit). If there are no timestamps, take a picture of yourself before posting if you want. That way, fat, unfunny, ungracious tryhards won't be able to Tweet what you wrote and pass it off as their own in the hopes that someone cool will recognize them."

Problems at Home

Dear Yuanji,

My dad lost his job two years ago due to downsizing in his company(it's in the financial industry but I won't say what the name or type of company). He hasn't been able to hold onto a job for more than a few months and he's started to drink fairly heavily. Drinks from the afternoon until he passes out around 9PM. He tells me it's not problem and that he's just down a little bit because he's unable to support a family he loves. He assures me that it's just temporary but that line is looking hazier now. How do I talk to him about the issue? I'm not sure how to bring it up to him.


Financial problems are always a sensitive issue for people. It sounds like your dad is trying to cope with a shortcoming he has, and its not always easy. From what you've told me, it seems clear that your dad knows that he is doing more damage with his drinking problem, but sometimes it can be hard to find a way out. That is where you need to come in as the people he loves. Show him that the burden of support does not solely lie on his shoulders. If not financially, offer him emotional support. As for how to bring the issue up. Just remember that indecision can cause more problems than the wrong decision. Let me illustrate with an anecdote. A man one day starts to feel abnormal pains in his chest. He surmises that he might be developing a heart condition, but does not want to go to a doctor to verify his fears. As long as he does not confront the issue, he will not lose his illusion of health. Three years later, he suffers from a heart attack. Perhaps it is true that the doctor would tell him that he would have died in three years anyways, but such a result is only one possibility out of the countless others that might have come about had he taken action. A negative outcome is not something to be feared, but rather something that should be confronted. See if you have the power to fix what is broken. I hope this helps.

Weekly Piece of Advice - November Edition!

Yuanji's Advice Corner is proud to be a sponsor of the month of November, and will start its advising duties with this gem:

"It's true there's a lot of fish out there in the sea, but not all of us are cut out to be fisherman. For all you wannabe fishermen out there, I suggest you either lose weight or start using (more) makeup, depending on your gender."

Weekly Piece of Advice

It's Monday, so it's time for a weekly piece of advice.

"Being yourself only works when you're not a fucking loser."

First Question!!!

Dear Yuanji,

I live in a triple-dorm. All three of us are on our period so it can be pretty catty in here. I am rooming with an old friend, (person A in the interest of anonymity), from high school. Our friendship has never been very stable, sometimes we love each other and sometimes we can't stand each other. Recently she has been waking me up extra early in the morning with her constant slamming of the door. When I confronted about it she ignored me. It's been a few days and she has been ignoring me in person as well as text messages and IMS. She is extra friendly with person B ever since she has been ignoring me. So, Do you think she is doing this trying to spite me? How should I deal with this in the future? What should I consider when I look for a new roommate next year? And how has your experience been with your past roommates? 

Thank You!

Dear Anon,

Sounds like a crazy situation you have there. First of all, don't tell other people you're on your period. Sometimes its better things are left unsaid, which segues into my point about your situation. Sometimes niggas just need their space, especially if its some female niggas. Next thing, it's not always about you. Don't always think that people are trying to spite you, in fact the opposite might be true. Maybe person A was ticked off when you confronted her about what she thought was something innocuous. I think it would be good for you two to have some distance for now so that you can remember why it is you were friends to begin with. I know that I can take my friends for granted if I'm around them too long. 

As for what kind of roommates you are looking for, the ideal roommate is kind of a personal preference. I feel that it basically falls into two camps. If you are the type of person who enjoys his/her own time, it may be good to find a roommate that you have very little in common with. In this case, it would be a strictly professional/financial relationship. If you are looking for a roommate that is going to be one of your best/better friends, as I have found myself in the position of, the number one rule is accommodation. This goes along with the issues you have with your friend right now. If you want to be very close to your roommate, you also have to be able to put up with her shit. The more flexible you are, within reason of course, the better a time you will have.

Yuanji's Advice Corner

In these changing times, there is an absence in our society of sound advice. This blog is the remedy. Post questions in the comment, and get a real ass response.