At what point do you decide a friendship is over?

[Pixelated]

Posted a link today to a funny article from a satire site. Included a funny comment of my own. The article mocked a major political figure (not going to go into details as (1) the actual details are irrelevant and (2) I don't want this to sink into fratching territory). If you want the link to the article, please PM me.

A longtime online friend, who is a hard-core he-can-do-NO-wrong supporter of said political figure, snapped back almost immediately that "posting fake news like this is what's gotten us to where we are today!" I lost my temper and said something to the effect of FFS, it's a JOKE. It was NEVER intended to be taken seriously! Tell you what: in future I will write "THIS IS SATIRE OR A JOKE, FOR THOSE OF YOU TOO STUPID TO RECOGNIZE IT AND TOO LAZY TO CHECK IT OUT!" Okay??

I have never snapped back at her online like that, but this is the latest in a long-running series of this sort of thing, which I have generally tried to ignore. She has no hesitation in criticizing my government (fine, I do it myself) but when you criticize her favourites, she always comes back with excuses why nothing they do is or could ever be wrong. I have no problem with people making fun even of the politicians I support. She can't seem to recognize or tolerate that (I guarantee you, if this article had been mocking "the other side," she'd have laughed her ass off). And a while ago I unfollowed her on FB because some of her (IMO) extremist posts were annoying the hell out of me.

I am starting to think more and more that this friendship has run its course. I'm reluctant to actually end it, but there's less and less joy in it.

[morgana]

there's less and less joy in it.

It's time.

[Pixelated]

It's time.

*sigh* Yeah, I think you're right ...

[yeahwhatev]

Friendships ebb and flow. Before you end things over a change of opinion.. TALK. Just because you are annoyed at bad habits, does not mean there is no hope. Nothing in the short missive here said anything about trying to work things out, being ignored or any REAL communication. The only thing I see is annoyance and wondering whether it is worth arguing about.

Agreeing not to discuss politics, having a heart to heart about the lack of real debate, the loss of common ground.. all still possible.. Not every person is a heartless, unreachable sociopath.. just MY ex-friends..

[Pixelated]

"Just my ex-friends" ...

Yeahwhatev, you make good points. This friendship started maybe a decade ago, and I didn't want to go into a whole ten years' worth of detail. But in the past, early on in the frienship, I did try to have exchanges of ideas. She has never shown herself willing to give serious consideration to opposing opinions on any subject whatsoever. Her opinions are the right ones, and opposing opinions are the wrong ones. Period. And that attitude just seems to be hardening as the years go by (and no, I'm not calling her a heartless sociopath, LOL).

There are more issues involved than just differing politics, and many more instances than just this one. It's just that this feels like the proverbial straw.

[April]

I've got a similar story. My friend posted some fratching material stuff. like an idiot, I commented on it, with facts, not feelings. Like easily google-able facts. Her husband came on and called me a "fucking liar" and she agreed. At that time, I FINALLY said that I was done. There was plenty of history involved. This was just the final bit. I quietly unfriended her (and she was the bridesmaid in my wedding!). It became a chore to be friends with her. So I stopped.

[Pixelated]

Yeah, that's the problem here too, April -- it's been going on a long time. As I said, I unfollowed her a few months ago so I didn't get myself into a snit over some of her posts. Ironically, I myself had stopped reposting stuff that I knew would spark this kind of reaction (I'd forgotten that everybody on your 'friends' list can see everything you 'Like' on FB ... so really my attempts at being low-key were basically wasted )

It just really feels like it's not worth the effort anymore.