Casual Acquaintances
A person has a casual acquaintance, Stacy, who sends them a message every few months. Stacy claims she "wants to stay in touch", but her messages are superficial and lack any real personal interest. The person used to share details about their life with Stacy, but she never showed any recognition or interest in return. Now, the person no longer shares details with Stacy and is wondering if it would be rude to stop responding to her messages.
Response to Casual Acquaintances
It is not rude to stop responding to Stacy’s messages. Stacy’s messages seem to be an attempt to "keep her contacts warm" rather than a genuine effort to stay in touch. The person does not have to respond to her messages if they do not feel like it.
Supporting a Loved One
A person loves their cousin, Carly, like a sister and is concerned about her well-being. Carly has recently gone through a bitter divorce, a failed business, and the loss of two sons. Her daughter has also become distant and rude towards her. The person tries to support Carly through daily texts and offers strategies to deal with her failing business and emotional struggles.
Advice for Carly
The person is giving Carly as much emotional support as possible. If they can manage to spend personal time with Carly, it may help boost her mood. They can also give Carly hope by reminding her that when one door closes, another opens, and she can use the lessons she has learned from her past experiences to move forward. The person can encourage Carly to learn from her mistakes and not repeat them, rather than getting stuck in the "why me?" mindset.
