My friends are always fighting

"My friends are always fighting with each other, and I always get in the middle of it somehow. When I try to suggest a solution, they don't listen. What should I do?"
--Shelby, 14, Los Angeles, CA
Fortunately you don't have to be involved with these fights, so try your hardest not to be. As soon as you get involved and start taking sides -- or offer advice so that it looks like you're taking sides -- there's a possibility that your friends might turn against you just as fast as they are turning against each other. Instead of trying to fix everything between them, stay neutral, even when they ask you to get involved. If they respect you, they should appreciate the fact that you're not choosing sides, and your maturity will help them see that their behavior is unacceptable to you. If that doesn't work, pull your friends aside individually and let them know that hanging out with people who are arguing all the time is no fun. We hope that will inspire them to work out their differences so you can all start having a good time together again. If your friends don't stop fighting, you can also decide not to hang out with them for a little while. Start spending time with other friends or getting more involved in school activities -- anything you really enjoy doing. This will help you stay neutral and not get involved because you'll have lots of other things to think about.