Can I ignore a Facebook "friend" request from a relative?

Northstarmom
Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:31:20 +0000

"As adults can’t we just include everyone? Especially those we are related to? This Facebook thing seems like high school drama.

Instead of figuring out how to avoid certain people, a Facebook page could be used to bless people with inclusion, compassion, and a little communication (communication, that really costs nothing to give).

While I believe in compassion, and many have told me that I am a compasionate person, I don’t see any reason to allow people whom I don’t like to have access to my Facebook page. That to me is like inviting over to one’s home someone whom one doesn’t like.

Fine to be polite to them when encountering them socially, but the politeness doesn’t need to extend to inviting them into one’s house to be face to face with all of one’s personal business. I am not interested in seeing Facebook info from people I don’t like, and I don’t want them seeing my Facebook info.

I’ve ignored Facebook requests from people whom I’m not fond of or don’t want to have such a close connection to. People have ignored my Facebook requests, too. I don’t see it as a big deal. Just because someone knocks on one’s door doesn’t mean one has to let them in.

" think you all have very valid points, but when we sit in our places of worship and are taught about forgiveness, I am sure that the message is especially focused on those who are the most difficult to forgive. Best not to drop all that good advice come Monday morning.

There is a consequence to another person - particularly a relative - if we choose not to befriend them online (which is such a minor gesture of kindness, really). If someone tries to be your friend on Facebook, and you decline, you have sent them a rejection. It is your choice about what you do - your business. However, if you post the issue on a public forum, you are inviting commentary. This is just my two cents."

“Forgiving” someone means letting go of anger and feelings of revenge toward them. It doesn’t mean welcoming them into your life so they can wreak havoc again. Lots of people don’t understand this, and that’s even why some battered women return again and again to the men who have abused them.

One can forgive someone while recognizing that they are a toxic person whom it would be best to avoid. One can then avoid them without rancor. If that avoidance makes them upset, that’s their problem. They, after all, brought the situation onto themselves.