Dear Eric: Husband going out all hours of the night
Chicago Tribune - Dec 18th, 2024
Two readers seek advice from Eric Thomas on relationship issues. The first, 'Feeling Hopeless,' is dealing with betrayal after discovering her husband has been engaging in inappropriate texting with another woman. Despite confronting him, he denies responsibility and blames his phone, causing her to feel lost and considering counseling. Eric advises her to hold on to her feelings as long as needed and suggests couples counseling to address the breach of trust. The second, 'No Comment,' is married to 'Fred' for over 40 years and feels unappreciated as he never comments on her hobbies. Eric suggests she communicate her desire for feedback and encouragement directly, framing it as an opportunity for Fred to be part of her creative pursuits.
RATING
This article is an advice column rather than a news piece, focusing on personal experiences and providing guidance. It does not require the same level of factual accuracy or source citation as a news article, but it effectively addresses the concerns of the individuals seeking advice. The column is clear and offers balanced perspectives for the situations described.
RATING DETAILS
The article is based on personal experiences and opinions rather than factual reporting. The advice given is reasonable and aligns with common relationship counseling practices, making it accurate for its purpose.
The columnist provides a balanced perspective by validating the feelings of the individuals seeking advice and offering constructive suggestions. The advice is empathetic and considers multiple viewpoints within the context of personal relationships.
The language is clear and concise, with a neutral and supportive tone that is appropriate for an advice column. The structure is logical, guiding the reader through the advice in an understandable manner.
As an advice column, the primary source is the columnist's opinion, not external sources. The lack of cited sources is typical for this genre, but it means that the advice relies heavily on the columnist's credibility and experience.
The column is transparent about the nature of the advice being personal opinions. However, there is no disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, although such disclosure is not usually expected in this format.