Last week, Allison said:

Do you need advice on an issue? Other SmartGirls can help! Submit your issue to SmartGirl.

477 SmartGirls replied:

30% gave other responses. Some SmartGirls said:

• Don't worry about if he is in a gang or not, it's none of your buisness anyway let him do what he wants to do and don't act scary about the situation. Just ask him, if he says no then forget about it or if he say yes, then you will have to deal with the simple fact that he is in a gang and there is nothing you can do about it. Just make sure you don't get involved in it.

• Talk to your friend about what you saw. Tell him how you feel about what you say but in a kind way being considerate of his feelings. Tell him that he's one of your best friends and that you really care about him and that you don't want him to get hurt. If he still resists to drop out of the gang, that's his decision. You tried to help, but he still needs to decide what's right for him on his own.

• You say he's one of your best friends right? Well if that is true than you should be able to talk to him about it. Tell him how you feel. Tell him you are concerned and if he likes you as much as you like him he'll listen to you.

• Heya. I think you should just leave it until you see other signs that he might be in a gang- strange behaviour or whatever. At the moment, just keep quiet, he may just have been doodling in 2nd period. Not all gangs are bad- though some are, so keep an eye out, but for now, don't do anything you may regret, or cause him to regret.

• Dear Allison, Calm down; your over-reacting. If this boy is one of your best friends, then you'll be able to ask him if he actually is in a gang. Don't get into a deep discussion and make yourself seem worried just say casually, "Why did you draw that on your hand?" and from whatever answer you get, you'll be able to tell. If he says he is in a gang, then try to persuade him not to be; telling an adult might ruin this great friendship you have. If he persists then tell him that you and him can't be best friends anymore, because you don't want to get involved. If he persists that he's staying in this gang and your worried about his safety, then telling an adult quietly is maybe a good idea. Good luck, fellow smartgirl! Laurie-Ann xx

• Ask him about what you saw. It is possible that he got bored and made a doodle on his hand. You don't want to make the situation more complicated than it needs to be. If it is just a doodle, explain to him that he shouldn't be drawing such inappropriate things, because people may take it the wrong way. If he is in a gang, go talk to an adult and have them talk to him about the seriousness of gang involvement.

• If he is definitly a best friend, then you should feel safe to ask him. Ask him honestly, and ask him to be honest himself. If he is... I suggest that you maybe try and talk him out of it, or you do tell an adult that you are worried. It may just be a doodle, or a dare or something so there may be nothing to worry about.

• Unless he's shown acts of violence there isn't really much to do. If you tell a teacher he's likely to find out and seeing as he's in a gang...well not the best approach.

• A lot of boys do stuff like that just to look cool, he may not actually be in a proper gang. Ask him why he got it, it seems kinda pointless to you. Something like that. Entirely up to you.

• Talk to him about it! If he doesn't want to talk, just drop it and just let him know you are there for him if he needs help.(Unless you don't want to help him!) Do what you think is right no matter what!

• Ask him if its a doodle or if he is in the gang. If he is in the gang tell him what kind of stories have been in the news paper and if he knows the difference between right and wrong he will make the right choice.

• Don't worry about if he is in a gang or not, it's none of your buisness anyway let him do what he wants to do and don't act scary about the situation. Just ask him, if he says no then forget about it or if he say yes, then you will have to deal with the simple fact that he is in a gang and there is nothing you can do about it. Just make sure you don't get involved in it.

• Talk to your friend about what you saw. Tell him how you feel about what you say but in a kind way being considerate of his feelings. Tell him that he's one of your best friends and that you really care about him and that you don't want him to get hurt. If he still resists to drop out of the gang, that's his decision. You tried to help, but he still needs to decide what's right for him on his own.

• You say he's one of your best friends right? Well if that is true than you should be able to talk to him about it. Tell him how you feel. Tell him you are concerned and if he likes you as much as you like him he'll listen to you.

• Heya. I think you should just leave it until you see other signs that he might be in a gang- strange behaviour or whatever. At the moment, just keep quiet, he may just have been doodling in 2nd period. Not all gangs are bad- though some are, so keep an eye out, but for now, don't do anything you may regret, or cause him to regret.

• Dear Allison, Calm down; your over-reacting. If this boy is one of your best friends, then you'll be able to ask him if he actually is in a gang. Don't get into a deep discussion and make yourself seem worried just say casually, "Why did you draw that on your hand?" and from whatever answer you get, you'll be able to tell. If he says he is in a gang, then try to persuade him not to be; telling an adult might ruin this great friendship you have. If he persists then tell him that you and him can't be best friends anymore, because you don't want to get involved. If he persists that he's staying in this gang and your worried about his safety, then telling an adult quietly is maybe a good idea. Good luck, fellow smartgirl! :) Laurie-Ann xx

• Ask him about what you saw. It is possible that he got bored and made a doodle on his hand. You don't want to make the situation more complicated than it needs to be. If it is just a doodle, explain to him that he shouldn't be drawing such inappropriate things, because people may take it the wrong way. If he is in a gang, go talk to an adult and have them talk to him about the seriousness of gang involvement.

• If he is definitly a best friend, then you should feel safe to ask him. Ask him honestly, and ask him to be honest himself. If he is... I suggest that you maybe try and talk him out of it, or you do tell an adult that you are worried. It may just be a doodle, or a dare or something so there may be nothing to worry about.

• Unless he's shown acts of violence there isn't really much to do. If you tell a teacher he's likely to find out and seeing as he's in a gang...well not the best approach.

• A lot of boys do stuff like that just to look cool, he may not actually be in a proper gang. Ask him why he got it, it seems kinda pointless to you. Something like that. Entirely up to you.

• Talk to him about it! If he doesn't want to talk, just drop it and just let him know you are there for him if he needs help.(Unless you don't want to help him!) Do what you think is right no matter what!

• He's going to do what he wants, so you just need to support him if you still want to be his friend. I would talk to him and find out what's really going on and then decide from there what you want to do.

Thanks to all of you that gave your advice! Please give your advice for this week's issue.