Dear Gigolo Joe:
I've had a roommate for a long time, and the one thing that keeps bothering me about him is the fridge. We really are at a loss for how to divide space in it. And a lot of times, I find my food gone or partially eaten because my roomie loves to eat (to say it nicely).
Are there any rules or something we could follow to control this situation? Guy with Hog Headed Roommate.
Dear Guy with a Hog Headed Roommate:
There are some basic rules for you guys to follow, but it's nothing fancy. Just common sense.
First, don't eat something you didn't buy without your roommate's consent. But if two weeks goes by, and he hasn't touched anything he bought, I'm going to say that's up for grabs. I mean, you can't waste food like that with all the starving people in the world. Or, if your roommate ever asks you why you ate his food, just tell him that as an excuse.
If you have something moldy in the fridge, take it out. Molds create spores that will travel all around in your fridge, which can spread the contamination. If your roommate says he's trying to do some loopy science experiment, get a new roommate.
And divide the fridge in half. No, not literally, but let each person have an equal portion. If you have a roommate who might need more space, that's fine. You could let him have more space, but if he takes up too much, that could be a problem.
When I think of someone needing more space, I think they have a few more pizza boxes and just need the space for two days. I'm not talking about someone who hords space and leaves you enough room for a piece of cheese and Snapple.
Now, you guys need to discuss these topics with each other and find some way to police each other. But, if you follow these rules, a lot of your problems should be solved.
Dear Gigolo Joe:
My roommate rearranged our house the other day. She got some of her friends, and they rearranged everything. I don't mind that they moved my stuff, and I think the house looks better, but I couldn't help but feel peeved about the whole incident.
I wish they contacted me before they moved anything, and I was just wondering how to handle the issue because I think I suggested rearranging the furniture, but I didn't think she would do it without me. My furniture moved without me.
Dear My furniture moved without me:
At least the furniture is arranged in a nice way. If it wasn't, you might have had even more of a problem.
First, just let her know how you feel about the house because that could really soften the blow of what you have to say. Then, just tell her you don't appreciate strangers touching your stuff, and you would like some notice next time.
I'm sure she won't take what you say too harshly, but she will become more aware of the person you are. Being a roommate allows you to grow together and learn each other's likes and dislikes. If you know what bothers your roommate, you can avoid it. And, if you find out what you both like, you could do it together and have a great opportunity to bond.
Write to Joe atjacermak@bsu.edu
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