The Clinic
Therapy with Ethel Self-Examination
Therapy with Ethel


I met a woman who after about a month of dating and intimacy I started having feelings for. Even though we had passionate sex, she seemed guarded with her emotions. She travels quite a bit (she retired early) and after her last trip she said “she isn’t in love with me” and “doesn’t think she can love again”. After basically being told that there’s no future, she called me a week later and asked if I want to go get coffee or see a movie. I have feelings for her but I don’t want to be a fuck-buddy. Should I bail out of this?
— Hunka Hunka Burning Questions

I'm pretty well-versed in womenspeak, so allow me to translate. I'm not in love with you actually means I met a hot stranger in the Dulles International Airport Bennigan's last trip and wound up fucking him in the baby changing station near gate 15C. Whereas she said I don't think I can love again she actually meant I love the attention I get from you and will string you along for company when I'm lonely but I just discovered how to ejaculate during orgasm and have stocked up on condoms and birth control pills for my next trip. It's a subtle difference, so I can see how you might have thought you heard something else.

Women love attention, and you slowly falling for her, finding her jokes funny, seeing her physical imperfections as sexy, being charmed by her every little flaw and neurosis is like crack to a crackhead. However, while you might think her body's a wonderland, for her it's more like Six Flags — sister is definitely getting laid elsewhere. We all want our toast buttered on both sides, honey, so either enjoy the ride while it lasts (and get tested regularly) or move on.

Is it possible to be true and “life long” friends with your ex, when you started off as friends, have been fuck buddies since breaking up, are on good enough terms, one is bitterly resentful about the break up, though possibly still in love, neither seems to have much interest in others, though no chance of getting back together?
— Ima Idiot

Bravo to you for having sense of self enough to know you're still in love with your ex. And double bravo to them for managing to dump your ass and still get your goodies whenever they want.

Here's something novel for you both to try. Seeing as you've been just about everything else to one another — friends, fuck buddies, lovers, intimates, bitter exes — why don't you try being the one thing you haven't been yet? Namely, strangers. Stay the hell out of each others' lives for five seconds. This isn't fucking "Will & Grace", honey.

I have a friend and an enemy. My good friend goes and makes out with this slut enemy (fully aware that because of this there will be consequences). Now I'm not asking if I should make up or if I should be mad or not, I'm just asking for some advice on good, swift vengeance techniques.
— Never Mind My Name

Farting on your friend's pillow is always a good one. Or signing them up to the Lillian Vernon catalogathon. Or you could always send them a grim STD card in this slut enemy's name.

But if you really want to make your friend pay — I mean really make them rue the day they were born — then just continue being the vengeful, petty, controlling, shrill, venomous, nagging, insecure, vituperous shrew you so obviously are. That's punishment enough for anyone.

I’m in a two-year-long relationship which seems to keep me relatively happy — that is, until I get a crush on another guy. It’s usually just a petty, pointless, unexpected, and not-so-worth-it crush on someone I never even end up going further with. But during this crush my body and mind turn against my man of two years, the sex turns horrible to the point of [being] painful, he begins to irritate me, and I just give off this completely bitchy aura around him. What am I doing having other crushes and what’s my body telling me?
— Painfully Confused

Let me see if I've got this straight. You've been with this guy for two years now and the best way you can think of describing your relationship is that it keeps you relatively happy? Your problem isn't with crushes, honey — it's with listening. Hold on; I've got call-waiting. Yeah, it's your body on the other line and it wants to you to FUCKING DUMP HIM ALREADY. Either that or get married. You already make each other miserable and have horrible, painful sex together; you might as well get a toaster oven out of it.

My bf likes to put his finger up my ass during sex. It feels good but last time I had anal, some feces came out all over my ex. What can I do to make sure that doesn’t happen again?
— Petrified of Poop

Sure Mr. Man is all hot and suave and ass-friendly right now. But take it from me, honey — it never lasts. And memories of how concerned you were with unpleasant odors during sex will be small consolation when he's knuckle-deep in his secretary's Choco-Taco. Now imagine that earlier, back before it all went south — oops! — you took a huge, steaming, jalapeño-inspired dump in his lap. Nobody can take that away from you. The sad truth about relationships is that one person invariably ends up shitting all over the other — better him than you, I say.

The director in my office is a femi-nazi yet she assails [sic] from Brooklyn (Jewish). What is a man to [do] in a world full of Amazon Lesbos?
— Krell

She shot you down, didn't she? Quelle surprise. You might consider easing up on that whole "FUCK YOU FOR REJECTING ME YOU FUCKING STUCK-UP CUNTLESS WHORE-BITCH" thing you've got going on. You know, work the "non-homicidal" angle the ladies all seem to fancy.

Think of this as a blessing in disguise. Dating your boss is always tricky territory, so much more so when you're frothing with sexual rage. Turn your sights instead toward someone who won't make you feel quite so inadequate, someone who wants the best for you, who'll always be on your side. And if your mom isn't interested maybe she has a sister.

I decided to go out with a girl for the first time a while back. In planning, she said she had a craving for oysters on the half-shell, and since we were going out on a Wednesday night, Hooters had a special and we should go there. I have never met a woman who liked Hooters, so I was intrigued. Then, the day of our date, she calls and said her dad was having the same cravings for oysters, and did I mind if her parents joined us? I said no…so I went. And I got to meet her parents, get to know her (and she was wearing a shirt cut low enough to almost show off all of Victoria’s Secret), and try raw oysters for the first time, all at Hooters…Is that the most f*ed up thing you’ve ever heard?
— Am I Crazy?

Honey, please. In this rarified age of the internet and its myriad wonders (Jeff Stryker singing his country classic Pop You in the Pooper, for example) your little "first-date-with-the-parents-at-a-tittie-bar" story is downright quaint. Except for the part where you ate oysters at fucking Hooters. Holy Christ. On sale no less. I think I saw that once on Fear Factor. Just so you know, properly-prepared raw oysters have neither hair nor teeth nor fingers, nor should they smell like crotch.

Ethel, as a straight guy I’m curious about the fact that lesbians always seem to want to sleep with me to “try it out”. But not straight women. What’s going on?
— Starter Boy

Lesbians always want to "try you out", huh? Let me guess: they're blonde, beautiful, and could suffocate a sasquatch with their double-Ds. And they have a twin sister they like to fuck. While you watch and jerk off. Right. Honey, if the lesbians actually do want to fuck you, it's because a) you look like a lesbian, b) they're using you to get to your sister, or c) they want to remind themselves why they stopped sleeping with men in the first place. As for why the non-sapphic gals are avoiding you, that is a mystery. Next time you meet a nice straight girl you'd like to "try out", give her a reference from someone who's had sexual experiences with you. You know, like your hand.

The worst possible situation: Guy living with me. While he’s getting his business is on its feet (translation: until his “check” comes in) I’m supporting him, his debts, my apartment, and my nine-year-old. I’m sick and tired but unable to shake him out of…guilt? Residual feelings? Perhaps wanting a future with him? Dunno. Help me, Ethel.
— What the Hell am I Doing?

Oh, sweetie. You already have a baby. Why are you dating another? Feelings fade. Fuck guilt. Dump that loser and get the hell on with your life already. Trust me — that magical future? You're living it. And if you think it's grim now, just imagine it in ten years, when he's fat and bald and can't get it up for anything except golf. And that mu'fucking check still hasn't come in. By then your only option will be to get a job teaching health class at the local high school so you can sexually brainwash one of your students into shooting him in his fat little face. Which is going to be that much harder with sagging boobs.

Why does my girlfriend insist on swallowing?
— Nick the Dick

Because you've fallen asleep and are dreaming, honey. Wake up or you'll be late for homeroom.

What’s the best way to seek revenge?
— Just Asking Justine

Patience, honey. Patience. While a frothing, accusatory confrontation might seem like a great idea at the time, there's always that danger of going in for the face-slap, missing, and winding up having the best sex of your life. Better to sit and fester somewhere quiet and let opportunity find you, which — sooner or later — it will. They say that living well is the best revenge but I'd argue that “accidentally” spilling a cup of hot coffee on the crotch of someone who really deserves it has its charms too.

I’m starting to find myself attracted to Ben Affleck. Is there anything I can do?
— Scared in Denver

There are several ways to deal with that problem. You could watch one of his recent movies — Gigli, for instance — which should solve the problem immediately. Or here's another idea. In obedience school they teach something called aversion therapy, which reinforces positive behavior and discourages negative or unhealthy behavior. Every time you catch yourself being attracted to Ben Affleck immediately smack a bag of doorknobs against your head. Repeat as necessary. Simple. Painful. Effective.

I got dumped because I’m not a “bad boy”. What the fuck is a “bad boy” and why do seemingly normal women go so nuts over them?
— Okay Boy

Some women just aren’t satisfied if you can’t fulfill their childish rebellious fantasies. So the next time your girlfriend tells you she wants to date a “bad boy” you should immediately walk to the kitchen and select the sharpest knife she owns. Go to her living room and violently slash her sofa to shreds. Pick up her television; hurl it at her cat. Tear up her designer clothes. Smear your feces on her bed and walls. I gave the same advice to Guy Ritchie years ago and look where he is now.

My parents won’t accept my boyfriend, Craig. He’s really great. Tall, handsome, beautiful smile, great job, good manners, and, to top it all off, he’s amazing in bed. And he’s even asked me to marry him! Everything parents should want for their daughter, right? Well, my parents just won’t accept him because of one little thing: he’s imaginary. Is that really so bad? How do I get my parents to overlook this one minor flaw and accept him into our family?
— Plagued by Parental Prejudice

According to a study conducted (appropriately enough) by the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of all first marriages end in separation or divorce. Let’s face it: Despite all the TV shows and movies and sappy songs to the contrary, the institution of marriage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. So my advice to your parents is to worry a little less about your raving delusions and a little more about the fact that you’re banking on a venture that has a 50 percent chance of ending in heartbreak, ruin, and misery. As for you, honey, don't concern yourself so much with your parents’ opinions of your lovelife. Especially when you can ponder your father’s secret obsession with dirty toilet seats and the on-going tryst between your mother and brother.

What do I do if I have built this “don’t hurt me” shell around myself and when I meet someone I like I treat them like crap and expect them to understand?
— Ghost in The Shell

If you’re hot and really, really good in bed then it pretty much doesn’t matter how you treat people. So go crazy!

Are dead flowers or black flowers more appropriate for a particularly sinister Valentine?
— Leafy Lawrence

That depends on the sentiment you’re attempting to convey. While dead flowers suggest you may be a psychotic stalker, nothing says “somewhere a goth loves you” better than black flowers. However, if you really want to send the proper Valentine message, there’s just no substitute for sleeping with one of their siblings.

 
 
 
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