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Please help me understand how a woman I just met has been "helping" her unemployed, suicidal ex-boyfriend who she has known since she was a teen. He was staying with her at her house while her house was being repaired because of storm damage. One night, her "ex" needed a place to stay. She arrived at my house and was on the phone with him while on my computer trying to find him a hotel room for the night. After making the arrangements, she then came over to me stating how much she hated having to do that for him.

My reply was that she did not have to do that for him, but she chose to do it for him. She mentions him in our conversations and states that I would feel differently about him if I met him. I was telling her how she is invested in his well being to which she denies. How do I get her to see that she isn't responsible for him anymore?
Anonymous

Continue reading Luv Coach Q&A: Holding onto the Past

Comments (16)


Rebecca Brody and Mason Jamal are back with advice for another Black Voices reader. This time they chop up the issue of pornography and relationships. Should women think twice about watching porn with their significant others? Does it hurt a couple's sex life or help? Watch as Brody and Mason explore the pros and cons of pornography.

Continue reading The Ring Episode 3: Watching Porn With Your Man

Comments (3)

I sometimes feel I have a fear of commitment, but I'm not sure why. Each relationship I embark upon seems to end in the same way and it's quite frustrating. I've changed the places in which I meet guys, and I've changed the kind of guys I've dated. So, I'm not sure why they end with such disappointment.
Shar



It sounds like you may be sending mixed messages. If you believe that you have a fear of commitment then you are sending the message that you want nothing to do with, and are not looking for, a committed relationship. That message attracts people who don't want a commitment. Once you get involved with them and decide you want something more, the relationship ends because you chose someone who wasn't looking for a long-term commitment. You need to figure out why you fear commitment and what happened to you in the past that has led you to this place. You should work with a relationship coach to help explore your fear. They can teach you how to shift your perception so that you embrace commitment and attract people who are also looking for a commitment in love.

Continue reading Luv Coach Q&A: Chasing Commitment!

Straight off the heels of his number one box office movie, 'Takers,' Clifford "T.I" Harris, 29, has found himself in trouble with the law, yet again. Instead of gun possession, this time around T.I. and his wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle-Harris, 36, were arrested and taken into custody for possession of controlled substances. The LA County Sheriff department reports that after recognizing the smell of marijuana in the car, the vehicle was searched and the couple was immediately arrested.

This unfortunate occurrence also comes days after the couple's July nuptials. T.I.'s repeated run in with the law -- just five months after his release from prison -- is beyond disappointing. However, his wife Tiny's involvement appears to be the most unfortunate aspect of the situation. As if she hasn't already, Tiny proves once again she is the poster child for the term 'Ride-or-Die Chick.'

The former 'Xscape' member has been with Harris through it all. When T.I first started his career and she had to stand in the background, she rode it out. When he became a megastar and she had to deal with 'groupie' rumors, she rode it out. Bearing child after child and still being known as the 'longtime girlfriend,' indeed she rode that out too. It was Tiny who was in the car when T.I got caught with possessing guns and it was Tiny who did the bid with her man when he was locked up.

But in the end what's in it for Tiny? Yes, it's commendable that she's been able to work things out in her relationship and has stuck by her man, but for what? Ride-or-die chicks are known for doing absolutely anything for their men, where the operative word 'anything' is not an exaggeration. These are the types of women that would kill, steal, lie, cook, clean, sleep with -- and if necessary like Tiny -- go to jail for their man. In fact, proving how much she will do and how unafraid she is to do it becomes the ultimate measure and testament of her love for her partner.

On the second season of her BET reality series, 'Tiny and Toya', Tiny revealed that although she would love to revisit her singing her career, T.I hasn't been supportive about the idea, which begs the question: At what point does being labeled a ride-or-die chick become overrated?

Continue reading T.I. and Tiny Arrested: Is Being a Ride-or-Die Chick Overrated?

Comments (1)

Is Mel B. headed toward Splitsville?

The British tabloid the Mirror has reported that the British beauty's husband, Stephen Belafonte, is ready to call his nearly-three-year marriage quits. Belafonte allegedly called up a reporter from the publication to discuss his marital woes with Brown, saying, "Dude, it's over. Mel's coming back to the UK soon – but I won't be coming with her."

A close friend of the singer says the couple hasn't been happy for a long time. "Mel's been talking about getting out. They're still talking to see if things can be worked out. But she's making plans to come back to the UK on a more permanent basis. Stephen hasn't been mentioned as joining her and has been consulting lawyers."

Continue reading Love Bytes: Melanie Brown & Stephen Belafonte on the Rocks, Chris Bosh Gets Engaged

Comments (18)

On Friday, rappers Nicki Minaj and Drake pulled a big practical joke on the Internet. The Young Money rappers, both protegees of Lil Wayne, have been rumored to be dating ever since Drake's single 'Miss Me' was released and he rapped, "I love Nicki Minaj/I told her I'd admit it/I hope one day we get married/just to say we f***ing did it." The two decided it would be a brilliant idea for publicity to blow more air on the rumor mill via Twitter.

Drake wrote on the social networking site, "Baby I am never scared. PROUD is more the word I would use." The quirky Nicki Minaj then retweeted her label mate and added, "Yes it's true Drake and I tied the knot."

With the way marriage has become the trend in hip-hop in the last six months, is was easy to believe that Drake and Nicki jumped the broom -- but only for about 10 minutes. Then insiders started to dispel the rumor, and in no time, everyone began to realize it was joke. The following day, Nicki later tweeted the marriage had been "annulled," but it left many wondering if that was really something to joke about?

Did Nicki, the queen of gimmicks, go to far? Although Nicki and Drake's relationship is fabricated, people who are involved in real relationships need to know there are some things you don't make light of.

Here is a countdown of the five things women, in particular, should never joke about with their men.

Continue reading Nicki Minaj and Drake: Things Women Shouldn't Joke About

Comments (3)

I've been dating this man for almost a year and we have a big age gap, I'm 22 and he is 35. He just told me he is seeing someone else as well as me and I just want to know if I should move on or not because I really fell in love with him!
Nettie

It's extremely painful when your partner callously disrespects your love and dishonors the relationship. It is essential at the start of a relationship to state your requirements (e.g. fidelity) so that both partners know the boundaries and the ramifications of breaking those requirements. He has chosen not to value you or your relationship, so if you choose to stay with him, then you are telling the world that you don't value yourself. It's time to walk away from this man, and I know it's not easy. I know that you love him very much, but if you allow others to mistreat you, you will lose sight of who you are and end up in an unhealthy situation. Drop this guy so you can make room in your life for other relationships and eventually your one great love. Don't settle for someone who doesn't think you're worth being his one and only.

Continue reading Luv Coach Q&A: Walk Away!

Comments (2)


I am a 39 year old woman who has never been married. I have been in a relationship with a man for the last three years. He had baggage from a previous marriage. Since the woman cheated and used him, he said that he could never love again. He is in this relationship but does not seem committed. I am starved for his attention and affection. I tell him I love him to get nothing in return. I have truly been hurt in the past. Should I move on and pray that one day someone will love me?
Pamela

When someone tells you that they can never love again, it's not a challenge for you to see if you can make them love you, it's a disclaimer that they are damaged goods and are unwilling to do the work to heal themselves. It's like banging your head against a wall and wondering why it hurts. He isn't committed because he told you he doesn't want to commit. He couldn't be more clear about his intentions. My question to you is, why haven't you received the message? If you go to the shoe store to buy toilet paper and the salesperson tells you they don't sell toilet paper, are just going to hang around in the hopes that one day they might decide to stock it? You are wasting your time and putting yourself through unnecessary emotional strife. It seems that your fear of ever finding love, is keeping you imprisoned in a loveless relationship. Until you recognize that embracing the harsh reality over the unknown is an unhealthy way to live, you will be stuck in a rut. Take a risk, love yourself, and move on. There are billions of people in the world who are searching for a love just like you, and they will appreciate and reciprocate your giving heart.

Continue reading Luv Coach Q&A: Wasting time!

With a committed relationship, you're often expected to share your fears, your goals, your money, your home, your hopes and basically your life with your partner. However, why do people get so hesitant when their partner asks them to divulge something like their email password?

For some of us, privacy in a relationship is a big deal. No wait, a really big deal. Those who don't understand the need for privacy in a relationship, are often labeled as the person with "trust issues," and the person that needs the privacy automatically viewed as if they have something to hide. In actuality, the concept of 'yours vs. mine,' in a relationship is delicate, and very situational.

Privacy, or lack thereof, isn't always a matter of trust, but can also be attributed to ego, experiences, the people involved in the relationship, the length of the commitment, and what one may or may not consider private. You can't force someone who was raised as an only child to be more open to their mate who was raised in a family of seven, and given little to no privacy at all. Nor can tell a woman who has had an ex-boyfriend that has scammed her in the past to be less private with her bank account info -- even if she loves you dearly.

Continue reading When Shouldn't Privacy Exist in a Relationship?

Comments (7)

Match, Chemistry, Zoosk, Plenty of Fish, Ebony Friends, Date Hookup, Ok cupid, Perfect Match, Lava Life, Afro Introduction, JDate, Friend Finder, Christian Mingle, Interracial Singles, Dream Matches, Prime Singles, Veggie Date, East Meet West. If you're searching for love on the internet and you enter the term 'dating site' into your web browser, you're doomed to be glued to your chair until your brain melts and your ass feels like lead. The multitude of dating companies promising to end your quest for love, have become the strip malls of the information highway, churning out dates like fast food. "Let me cruise on down to soul singles for a #3 - a tall, sexy, handsome man with a PhD, the ability to express his feelings, and the gumption to only have eyes for me." Sound delicious?

With the copious choices available to find love, the plethora of options can be overwhelming as you surf millions of faces. Bingeing on profiles may induce numbness, pickiness, the 'what if there is someone better?' syndrome, and don't forget that the amount of time spent on your computer will make your friends question if you need a porn intervention. With so many choices it's not surprising people get stuck in singles-ville, hopping from one site to the next, becoming more obsessed with the hunt than with actually finding a mate.

I have met my fair share of singles whose disillusionment with online dating caused them to abandon the search all together, believing that it's become a meat market for hook ups. I have coached many singles who came in search of my services because their internet dates revealed people who should have been carted off to the cuckoos nest. All these run ins with dating services has painted a pretty clear picture of the ones that work, and the ones that should be left at the side of the curb.

Continue reading Which Internet Dating Site Should I Pick?

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