Illustration: M.A. Marchetto

Q: A friend of mine tells white lies—that she met a celebrity on the street or that her husband was a football star. Lately, I don't listen to what she's saying; I'm just waiting for the next one. What to do?

A: The panel is of one mind on this: Call her on it. "A white lie is still a lie, and you're doing your friendship a disservice as long as you passively listen," says Rudy Rasmus. Anita L. Allen agrees. "Tell her, politely, that what she's saying is an exaggeration or a distortion." Or use Faith Salie's suggestion: "I really value our friendship, so I'd rather you be completely honest with me. Unless I ask you how old I look."