Italy has always been one of the most romantic countries in the world. But Gloria! This is ridiculous!

DEAR CHERYL: I went online to find a friend with benefits. I didn't want to get serious at this stage in my life. I got responses from a lot of freakos, then I actually found one man whom I wanted to meet. The sparks flew! We had a few very nice evenings, and then what do you think happened? We actually became great friends!

I'm getting beaten up by women who strongly disagree with my advice to Torn. She's the woman, married for seven years, who has a 2-year-old, another on the way and a verbally abusive husband.

Just who are the boys in blue protecting? And who's getting serviced?

DEAR CHERYL: I'm 50. Rory is 32. The age difference is shocking, but we've been together for two years. He was living at home when we met. We argued about it repeatedly, and he eventually found a "temporary" apartment. It was the first one he looked at, in a crappy neighborhood, three flights up, basically a dump, but at least he made a move.

The cyber world is really no different than the real world. It's filled with weirdos, bizarros, scammers and slobs. But every now and then you come across a caramel-toting keeper.

Martha called herself a spinster widow. Marty, the man she lived with for eight years, died suddenly in 2003.

DEAR CHERYL: My husband and I have taken care of my daughter's son since he was born. We love him, and he adores us. He's now 3. We put him in classes, took him to the park and to carnivals, and made sure he played with other children. But we had a falling-out with her, and now she only lets us see the boy one day a week.

We recently heard from Torn. She's been married for seven years, has a 2-year-old and another on the way. In the past year, her husband was fired and the family moved.

Two letters that recently ran together and my responses have given fuel to the vast Lavin-Hates-Men conspiracy.

DEAR CHERYL: I'm 19 and a sophomore in college. I've never had a boyfriend even though I'm smart, attractive and interested in lots of things. When I go to parties, guys always ask me to dance, so it's not my looks.

First of all, let me say that I love the Internet. I can buy knock-off designer handbags, pay my bills and write my column while I'm still in my pajamas. And if I were single, I'd sign up at some Internet dating sites.

Family finances were easy when there was only one breadwinner. I don't remember Carol Brady ever working. Poor Mike had to support the whole "Brady Bunch" even though three of the kids weren't even his.

DEAR CHERYL: I met Sunny when I was 24 and she was 28. I couldn't commit to her because I was just starting a business and needed to live at home. (I've suffered from major anxiety and panic disorder most of my adult life, and have recently been diagnosed as bipolar.) We dated for a year, then she got fed up and moved away.