OPINION Advice ad by curious student gets no response iVlKG UEDOLPH Ilhink 1 may have been eating a l«igc! when I saw the ad It was small, stuck at the begin ning of the Fmrraid's i lassified section, under a new heading “At Your Own Ktsk." "Good advice — any subject: $2 plus SASE.” it read Moving neither a problem 1 needed advice on. nor St. but wondering who would run an ad like that, 1 decided to find paper and pen and scrawl a fast note to the advertiser Something along the lines of “Who are vou and why are you doing this?” Twenty-nine cents later, the letter was in the mail, and I returned to my bagel. 1 forgot about the letter until last Monday, when, while I was digging through a recycling bar rel in search of an old newspa per, John Poppin came up to the Emerald office and introduced himself. This was that advice guy. 1 realized. The one who ran the ad. Poppin is a senior English major at the University, and planned at first to use his advice services as a quick wav to make some money. Poppin told me he had heard a story about someone who ran an ad in the hack of a supermar ket tabloid that read, “bast chance to send in a dollar.” That ad got 15.000 replies, Poppin said. Mis intention in offering $2 advi( e was to "sell something, bt legal and be good and help someone out As he thought alxiul it, money became lt>ss of an issue, and he found himself iftore interested in dis< overmg what sort of peo ple would respond and for what kinds of problems they might want advit e Poppin desi rified himself as someone who s "been around the block a few times lie greys up in San Frnncisi o. exposing himself to the perils and delights of living in a world renowned city " attended pri vate st hoois, and has interests im ludmg competitive archery , i omputors and cars. With his own exponent es and the knoyvledge of friends. Pop pin said he planned to put a fair amount of effort into coming up with good advice for people who wrote him. Good advice involved research, he said, and it he couldn’t come up with any good advice for someone fie would gladly return their money Hut he said he believed he could manage some sort of advice on nearly any problem from the trivial to the more seri ous. (Where to get the best-filled croissants in town is a trivial question — he says Pred Meyer is the best and stay away from the EMU apple fritters while you're at it.) His ad ran for eight days in the Emerald. At the end of those eight days, he was $20 poorer and the recipient of only one response. Mine "In today's search for some kind of guidant e, 1 thought some person would just reply.” he said, "if you're out at the end of your rope, sometimes you go for stuff like that. 1 would have answered because it s i ra/y It’s just nutty Good advice $~ What the hull 11 this ’ I'd prnba hly reply, and I'd proiwiblv write a serious question." Poppin beleives people didn't respond borauso they re so wrapped up in tlunr own lives they don’t bother to find answers to questions anymore Thev rely on the media, on rumors, or a friend of a Irieiid for information, he said People rarely go out and find answers." he said. May be peo ple inked about writing in to me, or maybe they thought serious Iv of writing m. but they didn't "People are not curious any more because they think they have too much to do. and yvhat they're curious about isn't as important as yvhat they're doing." Poppin said l icit s 100 percent untrue People should he curious, people should ask about things Absolutely never be afraid to ask F.ssentially . he's right Go find the answers to your questions Go to the source, don’t mess around, and ask someone who knows and get an ansyvcr That, I think, sums up John Poppin and his advice business His role in this proc ess1’ He'll find the answer for you if you don't think voti ve got the time But Poppin believes people have the time and brains to go answer their own questions Usually the simplest way to fiml things out is by a couple of phone i alls Reach out and ask someone I like phone calls because it avoids having to look silly in |mt son You don't have to give your name when you're < ailing some one for information. You t an be an anonymous voice asking strange questions just bei ause you happen to lie curious MHHMt sm' And ask anything How do porcupines mate' How i iiiiii' Klei lion Day was \ov 0 if it's supposed to lie the first 1'uosdav after tfn> first Mon da\ in November' l an llamas realI\ spit more than 40 feet? What are those big red balls strung on power lines lor '' When people se\ thes want frankness in a relationship, do they really uoorrs The Finest Chinese and American Food Open for lunches and dinners until 10 30 p.m Mon. - Thurs. and until midnight Fri and Sat Restaurant & Lounge 947 Franklin Blvd. 343-4480 want to know what you're think ing about thorn7 U h.it do they do with f.u torv rejet t gin'll eve halls ‘ Who !•> this guv advertiv mg Si iiiivu (i ill the l.iuvnihP You'd be surprised at what t omes out of it Strf; Ih'lktlph is a community reporter Cash For Textbooks Mon.-Sat. Smith Family Bookstore 768 E. 13th 1 Bloch From Campus 345-1651 Meet Oregon’s Newest State Senator!! Senator Peter Sorenson Senator Peter Sorenson invites you to meet with him during a Townhall meeting in Senate District 20. From 10:30 a.in to 12 IK) p in., I'ursdav. Novrmlirr l<>. 1903. Krh Memorial Student Union. Maple Room. 1 ol O Please plan to attend this Townhall meeting where you can meet Senator Peter Sorenson and share your views on the "State of the State." NOV. 15-21 ■.MMMMiaiiorailllMimmBlIIMMMWWHiailllMMMMMWM* (Gardens The last one for the term! d In the EMU Dining Room November 19 • SAGE (frasch from Seattle) brought to you by the EMU Cultural Forum and Food Service Free Chips and Salsa between 4 and 5 Free Music between 5 and 7 21 and Over • I D Required Alternative Beverages Available for information call 346-4373 for a preview keep your ears peeled to 88.1 KWVA campus radio