I have always believed in not judging a person by what "rumors" you hear about them. But when do rumors start to become the truth? I work in the entertainment industry here in Salem. Five nights a week I am out in the Salem "club" scene and work with many attractive women. Rumor has it that one of these ladies is "easy." I didn't want to believe it, but I started observing her with the male customers and realized that what was being "gossiped" about was actually more truthful than I wanted to believe. I really like this person, but she is putting herself into bad situations.

How can I help her turn back into a "nice" girl without destroying her self-esteem?
-- Bad Girl/Good Girl's Friend

Dear Bad Friend,

Let me see if I have this straight. Your "friend" (and I use this term loosely) sleeps around and YOU'RE all bent out of shape because people gossip about her. So what? Why do you care? Why are you on a crusade to make her change? So people stop gossiping? Because you have a middle school mentality that makes it hard for you to hang out with someone who isn't part of the "cool" crowd? What? You need to take a hard look at why you want this poor girl to live up to your standards. You have control issues. Get counseling and then get a life. And if you really want to be this girl's friend, like who she is not who you thought she was.

Madge is not a psychologist, nor does she have any training whatsoever in relationship therapy.  She is a saucy, Southern gal who dishes out no-nonsense advice.  If you would like to ask Madge a question, e-mail editors@salemmonthly.com.