# Advice columnists change people's names: this one chose Tom and Ray **URL:** \ **Category:** The Show\ **Created:** [June 26, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407 "2020-06-26T20:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vchimpanzee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ba8739/32.png) [@Vchimpanzee](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Vchimpanzee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407/1 "2020-06-26T20:47:31Z")
“Dear Annie” is considered the new successor to Ann Landers. The major advice columnists such as Dear Abby have admitted to changing the names of people in letters sent to them. For example, “Frank” has never called me since we went on one date. Now he’s dating my friend “Christine”. The letters themselves might use fake names, but even if they do, are those names kept? I’m curious about what happened with the first letter here. > **[Anger Can Be Easier Than Grief, by Annie Lane](https://www.creators.com/read/dear-annie/06/20/anger-can-be-easier-than-grief)** > > Dear Annie: I am shattered and torn apart. My son, who served eight and half years in prison for drugs, was released last Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407/2 "2020-06-26T20:50:15Z")
Me thinks you have the wrong Forum . This is Car Talk . ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407/3 "2020-06-26T20:50:19Z")
> [@Vchimpanzee](#): > > I’m curious about what happened with the first letter here. I’m curious about what this could possibly have to do with a car-oriented forum, such as this. 😒 ---
**Author:** ![Vchimpanzee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ba8739/32.png) [@Vchimpanzee](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Vchimpanzee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407/4 "2020-06-26T21:01:51Z")
Did you read the first letter? The brothers’ names are Tom and Ray. I wonder whose idea that was. Did they get the names from the Car talk guys? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407/5 "2020-06-26T21:03:09Z")
> [@Vchimpanzee](#): > > Did you read the first letter? No , and I can’t think of any reason to do so. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407/6 "2020-06-26T22:18:45Z")
So, applying Occam’s razor, either “R” or “Annie” is a fan of Click and Clack. That’s all. It’s just a cigar. ---
**Author:** ![Vchimpanzee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ba8739/32.png) [@Vchimpanzee](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Vchimpanzee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/advice-columnists-change-peoples-names-this-one-chose-tom-and-ray/166407/7 "2020-06-26T22:58:50Z")
Or it means a decade after the last new episodes, they’re more famous than we thought.