I didn't think the protocol for a friend break-up was so challenging. You don't reach out, ever, and when they invite you somewhere, you're busy. Most people take the hint. Unless daily life brings you in constant contact with the ex-friend, that should work fine.
Looks to me like if you want to stop hearing from this or that "friend," you could just give them an "About" link on the sidebar there. Seemed to drive Unf and Bob off...
And along the same lines, how do you get rid of people you don't like who lurk around your site, leaving inane comments? They're not even friends, and I can't break up with them!
In answer to your question, Paul, I've now banned your IP address.
Apostropher, WTF is up with my co-bloggers? Now Fontana's on the brink of death. Who wants next?
baa, spoken like a true chilly Northeasterner. If you've been friends with someone for, say, 10 years, and you're suddenly always busy, wouldn't you expect to be queried at some point by your former friend? It seems to me you've described the dumping protocol for the group of people from "acquaintance" to "not quite an acquaintance, and not quite a friend."
"Acquiantance" -- you mean like a parent?
Seriously, though, you effect the separation over time. A one year taper will suffice for most people.
If you don't care so much about what your former friend thinks of you, just let them know by your attitude and comments what you think of them. They'll stop hanging around. It works for me.
For the record, I still consider Ogged my very good fried. I can only hope and pray , that he feels the same way.
Apparantly I'm the only asshole on here