Dear LFTP: a friendship lost over political social-media posts
- Should I keep trying to reconcile with a friend who cut me off over my political social-media posts?
The reader reads a letter from a listener whose twenty-year friendship ended after the friend took the writer's political social-media posts as a personal attack and cut contact; apologies and reconciliation attempts have gone unanswered. The hosts split: one argues the poster insulted a friend and the friendship is over ('be more mature with social media'); others argue both sides acted immaturely, that social-media posts are the raw unfiltered self, and that the writer should make amends clearly then leave the ball in the friend's court. Secular's advice: step back and stop trying for a while; after the next election, cooler heads may prevail.
More on Friendship
-
Dear LFTP: 'Maid of Honor Fails to Follow Shower Instructions'
- Who is in the wrong — the bride or the maid of honor who won't follow the shower instructions?
The second Dear LFTP letter, titled 'Maid of Honor Fails to Follow Shower Instructions' (not a bathing problem — a bridal shower problem): the bride was clear she didn't want a…
From No. 603 · Found Out
-
Dear LFTP: the $4,200 loan that never came back
- How do I get past the sadness over the $4,200 loan my friend never repaid — do I just let it go?
The final Dear LFTP letter: a year ago a supposed friend asked to borrow money — her husband had left the country to renew his visa, her car was repossessed, she had no way to get to work.
From No. 603 · Found Out
-
Dear LFTP: Ralph calls three or four times a week
- How can I get my retired friend Ralph to call less frequently without being rude?
The letter: 'Ralph,' a longtime best friend, retired and is bored, so he calls three or four times a week 'even when there's nothing new to talk about,' rehashing the same things; subtle hints haven't worked; letting it go to voicemail just earns a callback request.
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
-
Dear LFTP: the birthday-gift pressure
- My friends insist on giving me birthday presents I can't reciprocate. Shouldn't my wishes have been respected since it's my birthday?
Mike reads the first Dear LFTP letter: a part-time worker paying her own health insurance asked friends to skip presents at a triple birthday dinner; they refused, saying she needn't reciprocate.
From No. 601 · Humble Faithful Idiot