Dear Ann Landers,
've always had a private telephone line until recently. Now I'm on a party line-the other party is the family next door. They have a seventeen-year-old son who screams, "Hey, get off the line!" whenever I pick up the re-ceiver. What possible interest could I have in listening to this boy jabber with his high-school friends? After being shouted at and insulted several times, I wrote a letter to the boy's father. I received no reply. If someone had written a similar letter to me, I would have gone over immediately to discuss the problem. Now whenever I encounter a member of that family, they turn their heads. Do you feel I should not have written the letter?-Grand Rapids

Dear Grand,
It would have been better to discuss the matter in person, but the father should have responded to your letter as a matter of courtesy. Parents do their children no favor when they take their side against adults who have legitimate complaints. This boy was clearly disrespectful. In most cities, the telephone company will change your party line partner if you have a good reason for requesting it. And you have.