Carolyn Hax: Friend keeps seeking validation for her serial bad decisions

Writer is unsure what to tell this friend who asks for opinions on things she wants to do. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sign up for this newsletter Read online Advice to help you tackle life's problems.     (Nick Galifianakis for The Post) Friend keeps seeking validation for her serial bad decisions Adapted from online discussions. Dear Carolyn: I have a friend who regularly texts for my opinion on this or that thing she wants to do. Almost always, my sense is the thing is a bad choice that she wants to make anyway, and she wants my validation. I don't want to pretend I think retail therapy when you're broke is a great form of self-care. She also calls to complain about things going poorly in her life, but then she gets annoyed when I respond with what I would do in her situation. The only other option seems to be to respond, "That's awful, I'm sorry," over and over again, which feels bad? What else should I be doing here? I hate seeing my friend in these situations. — Anonymous Read Carolyn's Response     ADVERTISEMENT   Want more? Carolyn's been writing her advice column for two decades. Explore the archives below. Playboy model? Stripper? The story of Romeo and Dubious. Read more »   Sitting out this family power struggle Read more »   His career move would mean she'd make sacrifices Read more »     News whiz? Play our daily news quiz. Test your knowledge of current events with our new quotable game, On the Record. Play game   We think you'll like this newsletter Check out The Tech Friend for straight talk and advice to make technology better serve you and our world every Tuesday and Friday. Sign up »

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