Advice for Awkward People

Howdy Joshua,

I'm having a bit of a personal problem, so I thought it'd be a great idea to have it published in a public newspaper. I'll preface this by saying that I have never shared a space with anyone in my life. My family's pretty well off, so we have a pretty big house with some pretty big rooms, and one of those is my bedroom. When we get hotels, I get my own room, the whole nine yards. I'm pretty territorial, like an eagle or something.

**So this year, I'm living on campus, right? So I requested a single room, and the [lovely, lovely individuals] in housing put me in a Mudge quad with three bozos. I mean, sure, there's a bathroom and a closet, but the beds are so close, and one of them keeps the lights on all night, and the other one never shuts up, even when I put my earplugs in, and the other one has really quiet, really kinky sex at weird times while we're all sleeping. I guess my question is: how do I deal with these people invading my huge personal bubble? They're savages, man — they leave their dirty dishes in the bathroom sink and don't even move them when they spit after brushing their teeth. Like come on, what is this, the middle ages? I'm about to go ballistic on these [lovely, lovely individuals]. **

Cordially,
REBECCA

Dear Raging Enraged Babe Ending Calamitous Cohabitation Aggressively,
(You didn't give yourself an acronym, so I did it for you, you're welcome)

Living with other people, especially those you haven't spent a lot of time with, can be very difficult. Ideally, you would all share some basic rules about bedtime and room etiquette, or at least you would have had a conversation about those basic things. That would be what I suggest — talk to your roommates and try to sort things out. You may have to make some compromises as well, but in the long run, it will make your stay more enjoyable. If there are any major problems, you can talk with your RA, and she will be happy to help you sort things out. Also, I know you've said that you like your space, but it couldn't hurt to give your roommates a chance. Dismissing people as bozos — especially when you're going to be living with them for a year — isn't always the best decision. They might end up being some great friends! Or you'll never see them again, and they'll leave an eternally bitter taste in your mouth with their very existence. But that's largely up to you.

Sincerely,
Joshua Brown.

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