Dear Prudence is Slates' advice column. Submit questions here. It's anonymous!Dear PrudenceOur neighbor has a large dog pack and hasn't cleaned up after them for over a year. My spouse and me are not in agreement about whether or not to report him to city. He was not willing to take the waste away when we asked him politely a month ago. After two weeks passed without any progress, my spouse politely asked him again. The guy then exploded at me (it should also be noted that every time he refused to help, my spouse offered to help). The guy then took out a few bags of trash, but the pile of waste was so large that it didn't help. The flies are so bad that I can't play in the yard with my toddler because of the horrible smell. My spouse claims that the man is talking about moving, and we should wait it. But I'm going crazy. Is it worth calling the city even if it means we have a fight with this guy? How do I convince my spouse to call the city?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOdorous NeighborDear Odorous Neighbor,Your question made me almost gag. Call the city. This sounds like a potential health risk. You've tried every other option. Your spouse doesn't have to be convinced (I assume he is at home searching for safe places to play with your toddler). Tell your spouse that you're going to do it. You could also tell him that you have already done it. What can he be upset about you taking the steps to allow him to enter your yard, even if he has exhausted all other options?Dear PrudenceRecently, I decided to start dating and get out there. I created a profile on a dating app, but had trouble with my photo. It is very difficult for me to take a photo of my self, and it makes me feel uncomfortable when I see myself in a photograph. I don't feel self-conscious about how I look, but it does bother me to see when photos of me are taken. A picture is essential for a dating profile. I don't want to take random pictures from the internet. What can I do to get past my fear of photos and create something that is presentable for my profile.AdvertisementAdvertisementFear of photosDear Fear of PhotographyGive your phone to a friend and they will populate your dating profile with photos from Instagram, Facebook, or other friends. There is no need to have a photoshoot. You can use random photos from the internet. They will show you how you live your life. You can forget about your fears and choose photos that are flattering to you.Receive Dear Prudence directly to your inbox Please try again. To use this form, please enable jаvascript. Email address: I would like to receive updates on Slate special offers. You agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms by signing up. Thank you for signing up! You can cancel your subscription at any time.Dear PrudenceMy daughter, 15, has been playing piano since she was 4. Although she is very talented, she never practices. She claims that piano playing doesn't bring her joy. Do I have to let her go? She will regret it later in her life. She wants to be with her friends right now.AdvertisementPiano PleaseDear Piano,I will be revealing my biases here. I was a child and did ballet, tennis and horseback riding as well as track, volleyball, basketball and track. I stopped after four months, or whatever length a season lasted, because I wanted the freedom to stop doing everything that I could. All sports are much more enjoyable when you're not out sweating all day. Basketball was the exception. I missed one practice after I was hit in the head with the ball during a drill. I decided that basketball wasn't for me. Retrospectively, I wish I had been forced to stick with something that I was good at. My first thought was to encourage her to keep playing piano, as she may regret it later and wish for more lessons.AdvertisementAdvertisementShe's now 15. It's been 11 years. Based on my experience with a former pianist, I believe that if she doesn't practice, her lessons may have stalled, which would mean that she has effectively quit. Your daughter has had ample time to learn about the instrument and to develop a passion for it. I don't think she will regret ever giving up on the piano. She has a solid foundation so she can pick it up again.It is troubling that she doesn't seem to be interested in any other than hanging out with friends. While friends are wonderful, most teens have something that is more than just school or friends. This could be student government, drama, dance, a job, volunteering, or even student government. You might want to check in with her to find out if there is anything that brings her joy and if she's doing okay overall. Talk about her future plans after high school if she isn't depressed. Now is the time for her to start thinking about college applications and what it will be like to get in at the schools she wants. This will likely include extracurricular activities. Encourage her to pick something that will occupy her time and put it on her resume. If not, it is because she loves it.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs she ages, her role will shift from being a force for her to make decisions to being able to help her make them. This is a positive step in the right direction.This week's Prudie is available for you to catch up.More advice from Pay DirtAt a regular table-service restaurant, I know I should tip 20%. Maybe a little less? 10%? 15% for takeout. When I was recovering from the pandemic I visited a restaurant that offered table service. I ordered my food via my phone from the table. I didn't need to flag down anyone or feel forgotten. But what about the tip? It seems a little excessive to tip 20 percent when you consider how much the server did in this instance. Is this the right etiquette?
