This post is titled: Putting things in their proper place.

And by "things," I mean people.

A friend of mine lets a girl treat him like dirt. She uses him for his money and his time, and she gives almost nothing in return. I told him the reason is that she doesn't respect him, because he's made it clear that he will put up with all of the hurtful things she does and still keep giving her attention.

So, I told him, it's time to put her in her place. He needs to make her feel a certain measure of unwanted and uncared for, that he's not always going to be there for her, that she's on her own, and she can only come to him on his terms.

He's been too much of a nice guy for too long, and he wants my help. Fortunately, I've become an expert on how to treat someone like that. Because it's how you treat me.