Nice package

Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

Is it my imagination or are there a lot more commercials about "erectile dysfunction" on the television these days? It seems that the commercial spots during the Super Bowl were largely for beer and erectile dysfunction products. What’s the deal? Are more guys unable to "get it up," so to speak? One of these commercials had the announcer saying something like, "If your erection lasts for more than four hours, you should go see a physician." Doesn’t this ring, as I’ve heard you say before, the "bad taste bell?"

— Inquiring Mind in Bristol

Dear Inquiring Mind,

There are indeed many more commercials for erectile dysfunction drugs appearing in the media (and undoubtedly in your e-mail as well). One reason is the aging baby boomer population. "ED," as Bob Dole — one of the original pitchmen for boner drugs — so coyly put it in his early commercials, is, of course an important concern for those in or approaching their senior years.

Another thing is how, just recently, the FDA gave the green light for two new ED drugs, and manufacturers are trying to get a share of the large market generated when Viagra was introduced. We also hear that some younger people like to use these drugs in the belief that they will enhance their performance.

So, yes, you are not imagining things. In terms of the bad taste bell, it’s getting harder and harder to discern bad taste from what we like to call "normal life." It all seems to increasingly be the same thing.

Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

A friend and I take turns driving each other to work. One week, he’ll drive, and the next week, I drive. On the weeks when he drives, he regularly plays rather loud, annoying music on the radio. I am tempted to lean over and turn the radio off, but I assume that that would be rude. Do you think I should do it anyway?

— A.B.

Dear A.B.,

Yes, your assumption is right. Have actually mentioned to your friend that you find the music he’s playing annoying, and that it makes you feel stressful? That certainly would be the way in which to deal with this situation. By the way, congratulations on car pooling. Dr. Lovemonkey wishes a lot more people would take up this very good idea.

Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

My girlfriend is getting very interested in taking up boxing. We have been to some bouts, and there were occasionally preliminary bouts in which women competed. My girlfriend would watch and say, "I can do that." We are both involved in a lot of athletic pursuits, but I think this is a little extreme as far as sports go. I’ve tried to tell her I’m afraid she will get seriously injured in the ring, but she has started training and is really into it. To me, it just doesn’t seem "ladylike." How can I convince her to stop?

— Alarmed

Dear Alarmed,

Being "ladylike" is in the eye of the beholder. If she is getting good training and is really into it, Dr. Lovemonkey thinks the best thing, if you can’t be enthusiastically supportive, is to just get out of the way. Of course, if she turns out to be real championship material, and Don King tries to move into the picture, get her the hell out of there, pronto.

Send questions and romantic quandaries to RUDYCHEEKS@prodigy.net