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Arresting headline, isn’t it? This was taken directly from a LinkedIn question by someone far-flung in my “3rd degree of separation” network. For those of you not yet in the know, LinkedIn is a social networking site for professionals (which, by the way, seems largely dominated by those in the ad/marketing industry), and it features an “Answers” section where people can ask personal or professional questions of those in their network. I like to answer questions from time to time and to read what others have posted, although I have yet to ask a question of my network.

This question, however, threw me for a loop. Three quick things:

1. This question was listed under the “Personal Debt Management” category. Weird. I would think there was a better place for it, although getting a divorce involves answering a lot of personal finance questions.

2. Interesting that a freelance journalist would choose such an open forum for asking a question that would become the basis for an article about relationships. I guess anyone who has been in a relationship has something relevant to say, but this is also another facet of the social media revolution…we’re all experts about something. What will mark the capabilities of a true journalist, as well as the successful consumer, in the coming age, is how capable she/he is of sorting through and filtering everyone’s “expertise” that is becoming available.

3. Here’s my tip for the LinkedIn user: don’t separate from your spouse if you can avoid it. Measures for not separating from your spouse can include, but are not limited to, honoring your commitment to him/her, swallowing your pride, being the first to say “I’m sorry”, getting some counseling, stop being selfish, and work on your marriage actively before things get bad. Separation is devastating, and sadly at times unavoidable. However, a great cause of the rampant divorce rates in our country is selfishness.

Alright…off the soapbox, on to more questions.