Im being publicly slammed for careing about the environment

**Dancing Lotus** · 05-03-2010, 08:04 PM

An old friend asked for advice via Face book about killing weeds.
I suggested he use vinegar and mentioned something about Monsanto.
Now he is posting articles and jokes about "eco-freaks".
If he doesn't agree with I have to say he could just ignore my advice. It's hurtful to see him ridicule me publicly.
Why do I have to be an "eco-freak" just because I believe in protecting the only plant we live on?

He even went so far as to post an article about how environmentalist are killing people by the millions by way of malaria because of the false claims that DDT is harming endanger species.

It's not the Buddhist way to rebuttal. The Buddha says to let be. It's not my job to convince him of anything but I'm having a hard time turning my back.

Any advice on how to handle this?

**nuisance26** · 05-03-2010, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by AnnK

If he doesn't agree with I have to say he could just ignore my advice.

Any advice on how to handle this?

~You answered your own question.~

**Missy** · 05-03-2010, 08:11 PM

I had one similar...but different (LOL< make sense??) I posted on mine that I was feeling homesick, so I had made some Whoopie Pies (these are sold at every convienience shop and supermarket anywhere back home I know of.) this friend went on and on about she'd been to maine once and never seen them therefore they must not be all that popular, blah blah, and how she even lived in Boston for awhile and never heard of them (Errr, Boston is in Mass...not Maine) and they were never ever sold there,,,, blah blah. Then she went on to say wierd things like have my husband call her...he knows the number anyhow. (Wierd, right? Concidering my hub cant stand her...he'd rather pick his nose with a red hot cattle brander). Stupid petty stuff in the over all scheme of things. But annoying. At first I just blocked her stuff for a little bit, so she couldnt see what i was doing or when i was on chat...then said it wasn't worh it and simply just removed her from my friends list. I am not as frustrated now and other friends on my list aren't as put off by her anymore either. Sometimes old friends should be left in the past (at least in this case) I am not saying that you should cut them out, but maybe figure a way to make them less stressful for you.

**Dancing Lotus** · 05-03-2010, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~You answered your own question.~

LOL, we often do answer our own questions.

I'm tempted to just unfriend him, as we obviously have nothing in common. But If I do I don't want it to look like I can't handle criticism.

**Darlene** · 05-03-2010, 08:22 PM

Just ignore & move on.

Life is to short for all the drama.
Liked your answer nuisance26.

**bumplett** · 05-03-2010, 08:26 PM

I don't think by un-friending him that it looks as if you can't handle it, it simply looks like you won't put up with it.

If you don't have anything in common, and if you won't miss chatting with him via facebook, let it go & un-friend him.

YOU have control over what you expose yourself to in this situation.

**bumplett** · 05-03-2010, 08:28 PM

by the way, I just recently did a FB purge and deleted many "groups" that were unneccessary, as well as people that I just don't talk to - they won't ever notice that I'm gone.

and if they do, oh well - we didn't talk anyway, so what's the harm?

**Russ** · 05-03-2010, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by AnnK

LOL, we often do answer our own questions.

I'm tempted to just unfriend him, as we obviously have nothing in common. But If I do I don't want it to look like I can't handle criticism.

Lose a friend, gain a friend! > My FB link http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/...92&ref=profile
I try to remember, although difficult at times, not everybody sees things the same way I do. If everybody thought the same way, what fun would that be?

**Dancing Lotus** · 05-03-2010, 09:09 PM

Just sent you a request

**Teresa T** · 05-03-2010, 09:11 PM

I've been ridiculed harassed and verbally abused a lot in my life. My need for any kind of rebuttal has lessened greatly. I too would just let it go.

My mother enjoys gardening (I don't) and even years ago she used natural products only in her garden.

I wave my freak flag high. I've never fit in, so if that's what someone wants to call me (in my case a vegan freak) I'm proud to be one.

**McD** · 05-03-2010, 09:16 PM

Defriend or hide him. If you hide the person, you can't see anything they say/do/post. It's very handy.

**Libby** · 05-03-2010, 09:30 PM

Food for thought - if you just remove him w/o telling him why, he may try to re-add you later on when he figures out you're missing from his friends list.

Easiest way to deal with this, just send a msg to him via FB, not post on his wall before you remove him. Something along the lines of: 'Its been nice to see what you've been up to since ** insert date/event here ** but I think its time we part ways since we don't talk as often nor have as much in common as we used to.'

This avoids the potential for awkward situations later ie: him asking you if you erased him 'by accident' etc.

You should not feel guilty about this at all. Friends come and go. There's a grey area between friends and acquaintances and thats up for you to decide who belongs where.

And if you feel like he doesn't deserve any explanation, thats fine too. Just give him the axe for being the jerk that he is. You shouldn't have to hide from anyone anytime. Period. You deserve to be you.

**Mrs. Piggy Bank** · 05-03-2010, 11:34 PM

Great idea! I think I need to clean out my FB too. As far as the so called friend, with friends like that, you certainly don't need enemies. Disagreeing is one thing, being down right rude is another. I would disconnect and move on. Good luck to you.

**IntlMom** · 05-03-2010, 11:58 PM

sorry Ann -

I'm labeled an eco-freak, environmentalist wacko in my hubbys family..... I don't care - let them think what they want.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-04-2010, 01:40 AM

I'd simply tell him that since he asked for advice, you gave him what you thought was the best alternative to using pesticides and other toxins that do more harm than good to the environment.

If he didn't want your advice (or anyone's) then he shouldn't have asked.

I'm one to put people on my block list who aggrevate me or do things that are just distasteful. If you don't have to look at it every day, you end up feeling better. If let it be means to cut off the tie of this friendship, then so be it.