I like to read advice columns. Mostly I'm interested in the questions and often the advice is not great, but not terrible. This week's Dear Prudence contains just terrible advice.

Dear Prudence, I am a female law student who is employed for the summer (and potentially for the school year) at a small firm that I'm really enjoying. The law office shares a floor of an office building with a bigger law firm, and my cubicle is "on the border." All of the attorneys at both firms are male, but at the other firm, the men are far from politically correct. I have two issues: First, one of the attorneys, "Jerry," often makes comments to me about my appearance. These range from annoying but harmless ("Nice tan") to creepy ("I like that skirt," in a lecherous tone). I have tried to ignore him or subtly indicate his comments aren't welcome, but neither approach has worked. I'm tempted to speak to one of my firm's partners, but I fear it would make me look like a little girl running to a man to fight my battles. I'm also considering documenting all his comments until I have enough for a sexual harassment suit so I can make his firm pay for the legal education I used to nail it. Second, I overhear a lot of conversations I find highly offensive. The men are fond of using homosexuality-based insults, calling one another or opponents "fag" and "homo." The work environment is becoming so unpleasant that I wonder how long I can stand it. What should I do? --Livid but Lost Law Student

Dear Livid,
I hope you don't view your law degree as a carte blanche to take to court everyone who makes you uncomfortable. If you tell a judge that getting the compliment "I like that skirt" made you unable to discharge your own legal duties, the conclusion may be that you need to find another line of work, not that the firm of Blowhard, Homophobe & Creep owes you a tuition check. The law firm you're working for likely won't be impressed with your enterprising spirit if they find out you've filed suit against the guys next door. Let's deal with Jerry. As you've discovered, being subtle isn't working. I assume your legal education is teaching you to state your position plainly, so do so. Next time Jerry comes over, tell him, "Jerry, I'd appreciate it if you would cease remarking on my appearance. I find your comments disruptive and your tone hostile. I hope you understand what I'm saying and that I won't have to say it again. Thanks." Only if he escalates should you take it to one of your partners, explaining that you've tried to deal with him yourself. As for the frat boys next door--get a sound-blocking headset if you must. Yes, their comments are repugnant, but you don't want to be the Carrie Nation of your floor. Let's hope this is resolved one day when a client of the firm who doesn't share their sensibilities overhears the office banter.
--Prudie

I agree that Livid should not file a sexual harassment suit just for the purpose of paying off her law student loans. That's not right. But what Livid describes is clearly sexual harassment. Even if the "Jerry" didn't pick up on her subtle hints to stop, she did make an effort to express her displeasure. A more direct attempt may help end the comments, or it may escalate the behavior. Moreover, the rude comments about homosexuals creates a hostile environment and should not just be blocked out. Just because "Jerry" isn't propositioning her ("give me a blow job and I'll give you a real job at my firm") and the comments aren't directly regarding her sexuality, doesn't mean that this behavior isn't sexual harassment. If Livid doesn't think that her own bosses will be understanding of what is and is not blatant sexual harassment and a hostile environment (and tell me that's not a shitty law firm that doesn't know the law), then she should seek advice from the EEOC and file a formal complaint. Livid doesn't need to take the other lawyers to court and suing just to make money is absolutely abhorrent, but sexual harassment and discrimination are illegal and should be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

And yes, I did email what I wrote above to Prudence. And I did it from my work email. I briefly looked at the comments following the article and would rather refrain from getting into a hate war there (I'm gun-shy about their comment forums because last time I commented on a Slate related article people were quite vicious and I was referred to as "psycho-prof" instead of "psych-prof").