Dear Ann Landers,
his is for the person who said, "Those who com-mit suicide are full of hate (often self-directed) , and they want to put an end to their lives in order to punish some-one for a real (or imagined) injustice. ('You'll be sorry for the way you treated me.')" That writer was vio-lently one-sided in his appraisal. I have contemplated suicide many times. I'm in my 50's now, and I hate nobody. Nor would I kill myself to make someone sorry they treated me badly. In fact, I can't think of anyone who has. My family and friends al-ways have been patient and consid-erate. I've had a great deal of counseling over a period of years, but it hasn't helped. I guess I'm just tired of swim-ming against the tide. I'm exhausted and depressed because I can't seem to make anything work. I seem to be fighting a losing battle on every front. Life is joyless. I'm not being fair to my family because I'm a drag-a pessi-mist, a kill-joy. I believe the world would be better off without me. I con-tribute nothing. So please, Ann, print this letter in case I do it one day. I'd hate to have those near and dear to me think I took my life to punish them. They don't de-serve to carry such guilt. A LONG-TIME READER.

DEAR READER,
Get a little more counseling, please, and a physical ex-amination as well. There might be an organic reason for your depression. You sound like such a gentle soul. The world does need you-whether you think so or not. Stick around. I care. DECEPTIVE PRACTICES