Is it acceptable for an influencer to publish these photos?

Dear Eric: A lady I know made shopping for Instacart, and sometimes she will publish photos of houses on Facebook to which she delivered, adding comments like “Look at this cool house to which I delivered grocery products today!” Isn’t that a huge violation of privacy?

Or as an influencer, she will publish videos of herself walking in a restaurant or a store, including photos of customers who line up or eat a meal or shop. Again, isn’t it a violation of privacy? She scans everyone by making the video.

Can people really make the publication of photos and videos without the authorization of owners or people who dine or shop? Thank you for your thoughts.

– Photo intrusion

Dear photo: It is, for the better or for the worst, one of the facts of modern life.

If you are in public, you could find yourself in the background of someone else’s photo. And if someone is on a public property, he could take a photo of your home. If your friend is held on a private property while taking the photos of the house, however, it opens up to other problems.

But just because she can do it, especially if she works. Many delivery drivers are required to take a photo of their packages on the doorstep to prove that they have deposited. So, it is to be expected. But few owners expect their food delivery to be accompanied on one side of architectural comments.

Anyway, I don’t think there is something you can do on this subject, except maybe unsubscribe on Facebook.

Dear Eric: I write in response to “emotionally exhausted”, whose energy has been drawn in many directions, leaving it drained.

I was in a similar exhaustion state until a friend suggests that it could be a hormonal imbalance. It turns out that people with ovaries can go through perimenopause up to 10 years before menopause. The decline in mental health and exhaustion are two of the many possible symptoms that accompany it (there are about 70!).

Life stress factors are still there, but after starting replacement hormone therapy, I have a much clearer spirit and higher energy levels to be able to cope with stress.

This could be worth checking the hormone levels, following the symptoms and going around a doctor who specializes in the care of perimenopause and menopause.

– Feel better

Dear feeling better: Thank you for sharing your experience. A number of readers have written to reflect on this letter and share their experience with perimenopause.

It is not a medical advice and should not be taken as such, but it is worth the editor to ask his doctor of perimenopause and to obtain a reference to a health professional who can recognize the symptoms and treat it in an appropriate manner, if necessary.

Dear Eric: This is a comment for “emotionally exhausted”, which feels that everyone around her help needs her help when she has trouble staying afloat. I felt the same thing in the forties. My work, my family, my dog, even the church to which I belonged needed me.

After falling with cancer and that I had to drop everything, I realized that the world could manage well without me. Then I learned to prioritize myself.

Remember that you should complete before completing your children while flying through turbulence.

– priorities

Dear priorities: That’s exactly it. We can run in tatters trying to be there for everyone. And it sometimes seems selfish to stop and take a second to regroup. But it’s essential.

One thing that I found useful in these situations is to make sure to communicate where we are and what we need. To use your metaphor, it means saying: “I can and I will complete your seat belt, but I also need to secure myself. And it’s a challenge for me right now. Can you give me a second or even help me so that we both go through it safely? ”

Dear Eric: A recent question in your column, about a student who had trouble making friends (“fractured friends”) reminded me of good advice that I obtained as older adolescents:

If you do not connect with others in friendships or relationships, note the qualities you hope to find at a friend / companion. Then work to demonstrate these qualities in your own life.

The people who share these attributes will be attracted to you. I must say that it worked for me.

– Love myself and the others

Dear magnet: What an excellent advice. And how lucky you were to receive it in adolescence.

We cannot control the way others engage with us, but by putting what we hope to attract, we learn more about our needs, become more clear to communicate them and improve the relationships that meet these needs.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askinric.com or Po Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram @ouric and register for his weekly newsletter in Rercthomas.com.