TELLING SOMEONE THEY SUCK

This letter appeared in the “Dear Prudence” column of Slate magazine:
“My boyfriend of three years has been dabbling in comedy since we started dating. For years his friends told him to do something as a comedian, even as just a hobby. I think he is the funniest man I’ve ever met except one thing: I don’t like his stand-up routines. I don’t know if it’s just my taste, but I think he’s trying too hard and it’s just not nearly as funny as his other stuff. When he asks me about his stand-up, I don’t know what to say.”
* You just look him in the eye and you say, “Aziz, this comedy thing just isn’t working for you, man.”
* I don’t know either. How does Chelsea Handler’s agent do it? (Or Carrot Top, or Jeff Dunham, or Nick Kroll, or…)
* Ease into it. Tell him, “Honey, you’re da bomb.” When he says “Thanks,” tell him, “No – I mean you really bombed.”
* Tell him to do a set on the internet. There are lots of people who will tell him for you.
* Isn’t there an old saying, “Love means never having to say ‘you’re funny.'”
* PHONE TOPIC: Have you had to tell a loved one they suck at something? How did you tell them, and how did they take it?