Don’t Take Chances; Threat Could Be Real

Dear Ann Landers: After reading the letter from “Unsettled in Sioux City,” I felt I had to add to your answer. It seems an extraordinarily pushy young woman claimed to be the illegitimate daughter of “Sioux City’s” father. She was pestering the daylights out of the family and was adamant that they accept her. You suggested slamming the phone down when she called and shutting the door in her face if she should show up.

I don’t know how life is in Sioux City, but here in New York there are a lot of weirdos. If someone were calling me constantly, forcing herself on my family and being totally obnoxious, I would consider her a lunatic and possibly dangerous. You should have advised “Sioux City” to file an official report with the police. She should then talk to the phone company about tracing the harassing phone calls so the police can take action.

“Sioux City” shouldn’t take any chances. This woman may be a real threat - she could also be mentally ill and in need of psychiatric help. - Concerned Citizen in the Big Apple

Dear Concerned Citizen: Thank you for being smarter and tougher than I was.

You are right and I appreciate the input. I hope “Sioux City” sees this and follows through.

Dear Ann Landers: Perhaps you don’t wish to re-open the “tissue issue” again, but I am unable to resist sending this article to you. Perhaps it will provide a laugh for your many readers. It was written by Art Robinson and appeared in the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Star-Phoenix. - Longtime Landers Fan

Dear Fan: The column I wrote many years ago about how to hang toilet paper (should the tissue go over the top or hang down along the wall?) seems destined to go on forever. Thank you for the piece by Art Robinson. I’m sure my readers will enjoy it. Here’s an edited version:

“OK, so we know who won the races for mayor and city council. We also know the makeup of the public and Catholic school boards. Ditto, the health board.

“But what about the really important question which was asked of those who took part in the ‘fun’ vote just before the election? What about the toilet tissue issue?

“In order to have the new, computerized vote-counting machines tested and ready for the election, a trial run was conducted, and we were all invited to vote on a ‘fun’ question. The question was one which just popped up out of thin air and which carried no political association. The question was ‘Are you in favor of toilet paper in all public washrooms being installed with the loose end coming up and over the front of the roll?’ Here’s the scoop:

“The answer was a resounding yes. A total of 768 people said they want the loose end coming over the top. Another 196 said they wanted it the other way. And you thought there was nothing left about the election to report.”

Dear Readers: In spite of the fact that an overwhelming number of people prefer the roll hung so that the paper comes over the top, I still prefer to have the paper hanging close to the wall.

As a great many readers pointed out when the question was being discussed in the column several years ago, “The most important thing is that the paper is there when you need it.”

Gem of the Day (Credit Marion Barry, mayor of Washington, D.C.): “Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.” (He actually said this. I did not make it up.)