I’d been subject to a year-long online prank; an ex-friend hacked into my computer, saw websites that I viewed, hacked my e-mail, posted my photos on a website, plus hate material about my sexual orientation.
Many people within my online network saw this site, but didn’t tell me it existed. They posted up my private information and their comments.
The “joke” was to lie to me that “police were investigating” me, and speak to me about my private information.
The website portrayed me as a nutcase who’s into conspiracy theories.
Eventually, someone showed me the website. It caused me extreme mental aggravation, induced paranoia, and feeling betrayed, even suicidal.
How can I regain trust in people’s goodness, overcome having people hate me, and prevent others from invading my personal space?
I know my computer had been hacked many times.

- Devastated

Protect your emotional health first; you can better discern whom to trust once you regain your own sense of well-being.
See your doctor for help with the depression this has caused; and have handy the number of a local distress centre hotline, should your mood sink again to despair.
Meantime, approach your technology with a fresh start. Despite the initial expense, it’ll be worthwhile for you to get a new computer, new service provider, new email address. Ensure your network is secured – the new service provider can help during setup.
Never download any programs or attachments unless CERTAIN of what they are, as key loggers can be attached to unknown programs after which every keystroke can be tracked.
And, never save any passwords to websites, i.e. bank accounts, etc.
However, before you get rid of the old computer, talk to the police. Someone has damaged your reputation, and encouraged others to harass you. This “prank” may be considered criminal activity or liable to fines. Save any evidence you have of it, to show police.
If they can’t act on it, they may be able to direct you to a government agency that’ll investigate further.

We’d pushed our daughter to break off her previous abusive relationship, and then rushed her into an arranged marriage. The couple didn’t get enough time to understand each other.
She lived with her in-laws one year; they now live on their own with two young daughters and a live-in nanny, my daughter doesn’t work.
They don’t live like husband and wife. They’re seeing a female counsellor, but my son-in-law thinks she can’t understand a man’s feelings.
He’s a good provider (financially), but spends time with his friends and goes to bars, which his wife disapproves.
At home, he just works on his computer.
She’s stressed and upset about how we raise girls in our culture - to be an obedient daughter or daughter-in-law.
How can we help them?

- Feeling Guilty

Your daughter feels that she’s in a situation that’s not of her own choosing. She needs encouragement to discover what she really wants for herself, beyond accepting one husband or another, e.g. developing a career along with being a mother, or getting a part-time job, or pursuing a personal interest. They apparently have the finances and child care to achieve this.
Hopefully, if she’s more self-directed and engaged with her life, it’ll help their relationship.
They both need individual counsellors – she, to work out her own choices; he, to learn that being a family man is still manly, and fun, and can also allow for some time with friends.

I’m 14, sharing a room with my brother, 15, since I was four. We’re not getting along and it’s getting really hard to share.
Whenever I raise the topic of my own room, my parents just dust it off, or say it’ll happen in the next few years.
I can’t cope with this any more. What can I do to improve my situation?

- Crowded

Your parents may have a space issue (e.g. using a bedroom as a home office), or other reasons for wanting you two together.
Ask in a non-aggressive way what the real reason is, so you can understand and discuss the problem with them. Then ask for a family meeting with both you and your brother, and seek some solutions within the room.
Examples: separate desk spaces; your own storage boxes for private stuff; roommate rules about “borrowing” the other’s clothing, lights on late, phone use, etc.