Dear Eric: I live in an area that in the summer gets over 100 degrees. So, even our mornings are hot. I have an acquaintance who is a lovely person. My issue is her clothes. She wears very short skirts or dresses. When she bends to pick up her dog’s business you can see her underwear. I personally don’t care. I can easily divert my eyes. But others might be offended, or she could get “cat called.” Should I say something to her?

– Short Question

Dear Short Question: No, please don’t. Though you have good intentions, commenting on the length of her clothes is more likely to make her self-conscious than it is to help her. Were it a single dress that was very short, I could see the logic in giving her a quick FYI. But this is her style and, presumably, it’s comfortable for her. Better to have a friend who accepts her – and protects her against catcalls, should they happen – than a friend whom she suspects is judging her.

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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.