One of the greatest joys in my life is receiving questions and remarks from readers via email. Here are a few recent ones:

Q: Hi Sean, I recently read your column on Taylor Swift and I lamented. You aren’t a Taylor Swift fan, are you? I might have to stop reading you if you are.

A: I would not recognize one Taylor Swift song.

Q: Seriously, Sean? You wrote about Taylor Swift? If you think she promotes kindness and benevolence you need to read up.

A: Except “Shake it Off.” I’d recognize that song. Everyone knows that one.

Q: I was dispirited to read that you encouraged interest in Taylor Swift. Don’t you watch the news? She’s not good for this country.

A: Also “Love Story.” But only the first and second verses, I swear.

Q: I read that you were urging young girls to be “Swifties.” Taylor Swift goes against the Bible, she is not a role model for young women, she dresses like a [deleted], she is a thief and a liar and an adulterer, and you know where these kinds of sinners end up, don’t you?

A: On church committees.

Q: You did NOT just write about Taylor Swift! She is not a good example for our children. I will not allow Taylor Swift music in my daughter’s life. Have you HEARD what she says about Christians? She basically came out and called us hypocrites!

A: Clearly, she was mistaken.

Q: I wish you’d do your homework before you spout off lies regarding a topic you know nothing about! Taylor Swift is involved in witchcraft! She glorifies Satan and is influencing her fans to practice witchcraft!

A: I’ll bet they call you the “fun mom.”

Q: Taylor Swift’s music is not welcome in my household, or in my girls’ lives! She is stealing the innocence of our young girls with her opinionated beliefs! She is outspoken on her political matters…! She is putting our nation in danger! She got on Instagram and told her 270 million fans to register to vote, and many of them registered to vote that same day!

A: How un-American.

Q: I’ve noticed in the few columns that you routinely put yourself down. You tell small jokes about yourself and I assume you think self-deprecating remarks are endearing, but they aren’t. I wonder if anyone has told you how unattractive it is to self-efface? I’ve been a family therapist for 30 years; putting oneself down is a textbook method for attaining compliments and, worse than that, it’s deceptive.

A: Recently my therapist said I was crazy. I told him I wanted a second opinion. He said, “Alright, you’re ugly, too.”

Q: I don’t know how you have the gaul call Birmingham, Alabama, “the greatest city in the world.” I was in Birmingham in the 1960s, it was the most hated city in the world.

A: Gall has two Ls. Also, we have a Super Target now.

Q: I like your work, but I get weary of reading the Q-and-A columns where you answer emails from haters. I skip these because to me it seems boring and unoriginal to write this way. Tell us a story, Sean, keep our interest without resorting to reading your mailbag.

A: Next time I’ll sing a Taylor Swift song. Not that I know any, of course.