"I was completely distraught during a breakup with my ex-boyfriend, when my girlfriend told me she would cut off all ties with him. But they are still "friends" on Facebook, and when I confronted her about it, she shrugged it off as if it was no big deal. I said I was extremely hurt; she never responded. Now I am annoyed every time I see her. Am I overreacting, or is she a self-serving friend?"
Social Q's response was basically "deal" but when I read the question, my first thought was, "Are you 12?" Then my second thought was, "Why do you care if your friend is still Facebook friends with your ex? You all friended each other."
Thanks to social networking, dating is no longer just between you and your partner (and your best friends since you tell them everything). It's between you, your partner, your Facebook friends, your tweeps (twitter followers) and your blog friends' list. Opening up your relationship that much means everyone can have an opinion on your failed relationship instead of just you, your girlfriends and the multiple rounds of cocktails, rage, swearing and tears. (substitute cocktails for cake, chocolate, exercise, etc.)
So when you and your partner break-up, you have no right to demand that your friend defriend your ex on Facebook. Besides, these days just because you have a friend on facebook doesn't mean you're actually friends with them. Instead, why not take the high road and defriend your ex without the ridiculous "it's complicated" status which always seems to say, "I really want you to ask me what's going on because I want to be the centre of my own little drama and I'm taking you along for the ride. Ask me, ask me, ask meeeeeee!"
Someone has to be the adult in the relationship. Besides, if your facebook friend is really your friend, she'll be there for you outside the social network cybersphere.
Just don't ask her to stalk your ex for you.
So when you break up with someone, do you think it's reasonable to ask your friends to defriend your ex?
-- Renee



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