Once again, while perusing Dear Abby as I put it on a page, the thought occurred to me that it would seem that people with problems would seek more rapid and perhaps anonymous advice than afforded in a nationwide column.

First, the time element. So, you’ve got a pressing problem. What to do? What to do?

Please help me, quickly. So you write to Dear Abby and wait however long it takes for letters to appear in her column. And then what happens?

“Dear Abby, thank you for your advice to refrain from telling my mother-in-law where the cow ate the cabbage. Unfort...