Dear Prudence

I resent this!

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Oct 21, 2026 6:00 AM

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Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column. Submit questions here .

Dear Prudence,

For 17 years, I’ve managed to live happily in my apartment by avoiding any contact with my neighbors beyond the odd nod or grunt. Then it arrived: the creature I shall call “Pepper,” because the thought of her makes me want to sneeze.

Pepper is relentlessly cheerful, always loudly greets people, is eager to know you, and probably means well, but is clearly not good at picking up cues.…