What would cause you to unfriend someone?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:34:39 -0400

I came across an article about "unfriending" The article starts out stating that the word "unfriend" is "the New Oxford American Dictionary Word of the Year" for the year 2009. My first thought was, "Really?" The article is directly related to Facebook but I thought perhaps it had worthwhile points that could be applied to all social media. #1 Doesn't apply to RP (I hope) because we're all prescreened. +1 for RP. :-) #2 Hmm well I consider the military members on RP to be my brothers and sisters in arms. It's a different social situation than FB that's open to everyone. #3 to 7, are applied individually, so I'm not going to comment on them. #8 is just silly.

http://blog.oup.com/2009/11/unfriend-facebook/

Eight reasons to unfriend someone on Facebook | OUPblog

If you haven’t already heard, ‘unfriend’ is the New Oxford American Dictionary ‘Word of the Year’. In honor of this announcement, I surveyed Facebook users across the country about why they would choose to unfriend someone. The results ranged from robots and rages, to baby photos and politics.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 3 at 2015 8:36 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:36:19 -0400

Their death CPT Private RallyPoint Member is the first things that comes to mind.
In these days of tension on many fronts people post things that they regret later. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and have never unfriended anybody on Facebook, un-contacted anybody on LinkenIn, or blocked anyone on RallyPoint.
I try to think, write, read what I wrote and then post. I make mistakes at times and realize others do as well :-)

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made Oct 3 at 2015 8:39 PM

SGT Jonathon Caldwell — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:39:26 -0400

CPT M C. Totally agree with your view on RP and Facebook. Personally I like everyone on RP much more than Facebook, even close civilian friends. Everyone understands what I talk about here.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2015 8:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:42:07 -0400

Back when I still had FB. I'd unfriend my wife every year when CFB started. I'm a die hard Gator fan and she's a die hard Bama fan. We have gotten rid of FB so now we scowl at each other during game time.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 3 at 2015 8:49 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:49:42 -0400

Generally speaking, as long as I able to understand the posts, I don't unfriend. Even then, I treat Social Media as another media source, and I don't want to neuter myself. Even if I disagree with someone Politically, Religiously, etc, when I friended them I knew they had something to bring to the table.

I get LOTS of things I disagree with that passes my feed. But... disagreement doesn't mean without value. I learn just as much from things that I disagree with as things I agree with. I have online friends who are across the spectrum, and it's amazing what I see on my feed. It's all rabbit holes of adventure.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2015 8:50 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:50:39 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member I guess if harassed but that I would take to the admin. Otherwise RP is different than FB so I would keep contacts.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2015 8:57 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:57:16 -0400

For me it would have to be some sort of disreprespret or I really don't communicate with them really. I have been defriended a few times. Some of them I have asked for and knew it was coming. One of them was wearing badges he didn't earn. So I called him out of it. I wasn't his friend anymore. I didn't lose any sleep over it.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Oct 3 at 2015 9:03 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:03:32 -0400

I was just going to do #8 until I read the Burger King disabled the app. I have done number 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. It's funny you posted this today because over dinner, I was telling my wife that I was about to unfriend a person because many of his comments just did not make sense. He would fit into numbers 2, 4, and somewhat 7. I would lose some of my family for number 7 so I have not done that in a while. I am still hoping that BK brings back the Whopper sacrifice since that is my favorite fast food sandwich and I could easily offer up 10 friends for a free one.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Oct 3 at 2015 9:10 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:10:27 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member I seldom have a problem with anyone and have not "unfriended" anyone.I enjoy different opinions even when they are completely at odds with my own.Sometimes they even change my stubborn opinion.Lol

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 3 at 2015 9:30 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:30:37 -0400

I seldom block or unfriend anyway unless they prove to be too stupid to debate. I actually unfriended my liberal niece for that reason. To debate someone with reasonable intellect keeps it interesting regardless of the side you fall on.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Oct 3 at 2015 9:32 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:32:11 -0400

Rarely, if ever. I will unfollow you if you're a constant stream of bs, but I have lots of friends passionate about their particular beliefs so if I unfriended for that, I'd have no friends on social media. Haha

You'd have to come on to my post and go really over the top with insults or post something particularly scummy.

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Oct 3 at 2015 9:35 PM

PV2 Scott Goodpasture — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:35:03 -0400

I unfriended an individual because I got sick of his religious posts. As benign as they were it just got damn annoying

Response by PFC Robert Falk made Oct 3 at 2015 9:57 PM

PFC Robert Falk — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:57:10 -0400

The one and ONLY reason to unfriend someone an attack on my family..... they can say what they want to about me but NOT about my family.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 3 at 2015 10:19 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 22:19:51 -0400

Inappropriate language Or disparaging comments about others

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Oct 3 at 2015 10:37 PM

SGT Rick Ash — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 22:37:54 -0400

It would take a lot of direct, unwarranted verbal abuse toward me until I was at the point of seeking them out face to face or just blocking them. I think that's more of an insult, which at that point is what I would want!

Thanks,
Rick

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2015 10:57 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 22:57:33 -0400

When Facebook first came yo I friended a lot of acquaintances. Many of those people I haven't really had any dealings with over the years and probably never will. Those people I will unfriendly after a while mainly because I have nothing in common with them anymore. In this case I remove some people as we all move on in life sometimes.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Oct 3 at 2015 11:00 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:00:43 -0400

Only two reasons have ever caused me to unfriend someone:

1. Having an extremely, extremely poisonous attitude towards politics.
2. Blatantly ignoring emails.

The latter is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 3 at 2015 11:02 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:02:01 -0400

Actually felt the need to block one here on RP...

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Oct 3 at 2015 11:08 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:08:24 -0400

I unfriend people on facebook who constantly post lewd, and obscene posts. I will also unfriend someone who just wants to argue about everything just for the sake of arguing.

Response by SSG Melvin Nulph made Oct 3 at 2015 11:35 PM

SSG Melvin Nulph — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 23:35:14 -0400

I'd have to learn how to do it and remember long enough to get it done. They would have to be non-military, (not really open to a lot of them other ones, just not family?) That means I'd have to attempt to open up to them to care, (do not see that happening in my life time).

Response by SCPO Penny Douphinett made Oct 4 at 2015 12:07 AM

SCPO Penny Douphinett — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 00:07:22 -0400

My brother is my most annoying contact on Facebook and that is because we couldn't be any more different. Having said that, he is also former Navy and I look forward to his posts every day. I enjoy challenging him and being challenged. I do have a close relative though who likes to do the "feeling low" kind of posts at least once a week and am considering her to be my first unfriend.

I agree with others that Rally Point is easier than FB because we all talk the same language. That isn't always true with family and friends. I have 7 siblings, 3 of them are vets and they are my most frequent contacts on FB. Might be a link there.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Oct 4 at 2015 12:34 AM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 00:34:24 -0400

My kids used to "unfriend me" so I couldn't see what they were up to...LOL When they did this, I simply changed the internet password till they agreed to "friend" me again.

My brother made my nephews "unfriend" me....because they think I'm too opinionated when it comes to politics. ...but my oldest Nephew actually likes politics. He just turned 16. He'll still contact me so we can have some discussions. lol We do not tell my brother about it though. lol

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2015 12:43 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 00:43:48 -0400

What's this facebook thing you speak of? I had an account to keep in touch with my son while he was on active duty. I guess i unfriended everyone when I cancelled my account. I haven't missed anything.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Oct 4 at 2015 1:00 AM

LTC John Shaw — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 01:00:16 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Come on it's FB or RP or whatever social network... We can unfriend for any reason. I generally remain connected unless someone start spamming with 'inappropriate' photos or commentary. My wife and kids are connected with me on most social networks, we all don't need that drama.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2015 1:03 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 01:03:48 -0400

I love the geico commercial.. " that's not how this works, that's not how any of this works" ... with the 3 old ladies

Response by SSG Jesus Sijalbo made Oct 4 at 2015 4:48 AM

SSG Jesus Sijalbo — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 04:48:06 -0400

I am so glad that I joined RP because everyone in here can relate to something or someone. Thats very important to me and helpful as I transition back with family. Its somewhere that you can feel belong to something still special and people cares. Most of all we all have that certain attitude and respect about subject on hand good or bad. Thank you everyone and God Bless us All.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Oct 4 at 2015 5:24 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 05:24:36 -0400

A stab in the back when all the while, the "sweet bless your little ole heart." Is front and center. If someone unfriends me, I'd to know the reason and whether it is a general problem I can work on or we chose to just go our separate ways without telling me.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Oct 4 at 2015 9:52 AM

SGT Francis Wright — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 09:52:42 -0400

I guess the only way I would "unfriend" someone; would if they showed up at my home and threatened my family. Since being out of the Army; I have developed an exceptionally thick skin. Due to working for the State of Texas as a Correctional Officer.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 4 at 2015 11:27 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 11:27:45 -0400

I have never dropped a connection on RP, but I have on FB. There are people who are abusive, and there are people who post proselytizing posts. I don't need those kinds of things on my wall...

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Oct 4 at 2015 1:15 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 13:15:42 -0400

I don't think there is really ever a need to unfriend or block someone. If I find their posts annoying, or ignorant, I would usually just unsubscribe from them so they don't show up in my news feed.

It would take a lot for me to have to unfriend you, in which you would probably end up getting blocked and reported at the same time.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 4 at 2015 4:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 16:24:03 -0400

Unmitigated attention whores.

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Oct 5 at 2015 10:33 AM

SSG Richard Reilly — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 10:33:27 -0400

I actually at one point had 500+ friends. Then I started a draft and eliminated some then asked others why they should be on my friends list. I got it down to about 40ish people now. Cut sling load on dead weight half them wouldn't even notice.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 7 at 2015 3:01 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 03:01:59 -0400

I've been unfriended on FB because I don't blindly support Obama and gun control. I've also been unfriended because I was asking for opinions on Windows 10 and started getting "Macintosh is the greatest!!!" comments and told that person I didn't give a shit about Mac, I was asking about Windows.

I do have a few friends on FB who I don't follow/are on my "restricted" list simply because we're only friends because of a few games I play on FB.