Dear Eric: I live in a fairly upscale apartment building of a few hundred units located in a fairly upscale part of a city. It’s quite a nice, new building and I enjoy living there.

But one apartment on the first floor has a bad odor that emanates from it when walking past the door. Because the apartment also opens from the back to the pool, the odor is heavy across a large swath of the lounging area.

The smell is revolting. The best way to describe it (and I’m not exaggerating) is a combination of rotting garbage mixed with dirty diapers that somebody is trying to cover up with cheap fabric softener. I am sure of which apartment it is coming from, because one day I was passing by the door just as the 20-something female tenant was going in and the very recognizable putrid stench blasted out like a wrecking ball slamming me in the gut.

I’m a bit older, in my early 50s. In an era in which anybody like me who complains gets labeled as an entitled “Karen,” I hate to report it to the young “agents” who staff the leasing office. I just suspect they’ll scoff at the old guy and do nothing. I also have a heart and don’t want to mortify the young woman.

I’m stunned that nobody else has complained. But maybe they’re like me and have no idea what to do. Do you?

– Revolted Neighbor

Dear Neighbor: At the risk of getting on a soapbox, I have to say that the term “Karen” has outlived its usefulness, if it ever had any. It’s an imprecise catchall and these days we’d all benefit from being clearer in our language and intent. (Not to mention, it makes life annoying for a number of people named Karen whom I quite like.)

All that to say, alert building management, if for no other reason than if the smell is that bad and that consistent, it strongly suggests a larger problem that could put the resident or other residents at risk. For her safety and yours, say something to someone who has the authority to respectfully investigate.

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Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.