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Conference quark::human_relations-v1

Title:What's all this fuss about 'sax and violins'?
Notice:Archived V1 - Current conference is QUARK::HUMAN_RELATIONS
Moderator:ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI
Created:Fri May 09 1986
Last Modified:Wed Jun 26 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1327
Total number of notes:28298

540.0. "getting strung along?" by CADSE::SANCLEMENTE () Fri Jul 15 1988 13:55

    
    
    	This is the problem I'am having: I have a fairly close friend
    who just recently was in a relationship that suddenly ended. He
    really got the short end of the shaft in the deal.  I don't want
    to bore anyone with the details but suffice it to say she was 
    extremly dishonest and manipulative. This friend of mine is 
    one of those people who is so nice that it is easy to take 
    advantage of him. When he was dumped he was emotionally wrecked.
    Here is the crux of the problem: she wants to continue the relationship
    on a friendship basis. Its obvious to me and to everyone else who
    is familiar with the situation (except my friend) that she is just
    stringing him along until she tires of her present boyfriend.
    I know its really none of my business, but I hate to see my friend
    hurt again. Is there someway I can communicate to him whats going
    on? Or should I just keep my mouth shut? 
    
    		thanks for any help
    
    			A.J.
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540.1Silence is GoldenANGORA::BUSHEELiving on Blues PowerFri Jul 15 1988 14:184
    
    	If you still value this person as a friend, I'd say keep
    	your nose out of it. Butting ones nose into anothers love
    	life is one of the quickest ways to make ex-friends.
540.2Lend an ear.TUNER::PRIEURFri Jul 15 1988 17:2716
    I feel you can state your opinion but no more.  I always "listen"
    to my friends, then digest their opinions and suggestions, but ALWAYS
    come out with my own conclusions.  He should respect your concern
    for him.  All of us have to make our own choices in life,
    whether bad or good.  We all make mistakes but hopefully we 
    learn from them.   
    
    It is never wise to interfere in affairs of the heart.  No matter
    what the emotional situation is, it is between those two people 
    alone.
    
    If you value your friendship, lend him an ear, shoulder, tissues,
    whatever.  But let him decide what's best for him.   He will either
    see through her facade and move on, or he will stay in the relationship.
    But that is his choice and either way he will learn and grow from
    it.
540.3Eggshells!HOTJOB::GROUNDSSuicide is painlessMon Jul 18 1988 20:376
    If you're going to discuss it with your friend, it might be best
    to approach it delicately.  Sometimes a series of questions can
    lead the person to a better understanding.  Don't try and tell him
    what you think; rather, lead him to the same conclusion through some
    carefully worded questions.  He will find solutions to his problems
    in the process of answering your questions about the relationship.
540.4ask questions, then listenCOMET::BERRYHowie Mandel in a previous life.Tue Jul 19 1988 07:168
    
    In agreement with .3 - don't try and tell what ya think, but lead
    with questions.
    
    Isn't it interesting how we can always listen to other people's
    problems and always give "advice" but can't get our own lives right!
    
    
540.5small worldCADSE::SHANNONlook behind youTue Jul 19 1988 10:3429
	This type of problem is a good example of the two different 
	types of people that you find floating around today.

	type 1 : well meaning to a fault. rarely can see the faults
		 in another person, even obvious ones (like dishonesty).
		 much to easy to manipulate since too concerned with the
		 other person well being or feelings. You know the saying
    		 about nice guys finish last.
        		 

	type 2 : self centered and manipultive. Can see no wrong in
		 themselves. Dishonest yet feels justified in being
		 that way. ect ect ....

	When type 1 gets together with type 2 the result will always be
	type 1 getting the shaft from type 2.

	A.J., it's obvious your friend is a type 1 and his exgirlfriend
	a type 2.  My advice to you is to not say anything. Type 1 people
	only learn after they have been through the wringer a few times.
	let him learn his lesson the hard way.  Eventually he will learn
	enough to avoid the kind of person he was hooked up with.


			mike


    ps  I feel sympathy for your friend, The identical thing happened to a
    friend of mine. I think it happens quite a bit. 
540.6try just listeningTLE::RANDALLI feel a novel coming onWed Jul 20 1988 09:2323
    Obviously your friend is getting something, psychologically
    speaking, from this relationship. 
    
    Two possibilities come to mind:  one is that the woman has some
    virtues that are not immediately obvious that compensate for her
    dishonesty, the other is that your friend has some kind of "need"
    to be treated like this.  Possibly both. 
    
    You might try helping him explore his feelings about her and about
    his relationship with her.  [I don't mean leading questions, I
    mean accepting whatever he has to say.]  He probably hasn't
    thought of his relationship in terms of what he's getting out of
    it, and she might be just a symptom of more severe problems. If
    she has virtues that are not immediately obvious, you might find
    yourself liking her, too. 
    
    Even if she turns out to be even worse than you thought, I would
    suggest that you refrain from dumping on the woman, if possible.
    Being rude about her is not going to persuade him to leave her. In
    all likelihood it will just make him cling to her more stubbornly
    and could conceivably prolong the relationship. 

    --bonnie
540.7situation is cleared upCADSE::SANCLEMENTEWed Jul 20 1988 11:0713
    
    
    	I want to thank everyone for their help.  As it turned out,
    however there will be no need for me to talk to him. She finally
    exposed herself for what she is (slightly unbalanced). I know it
    seems like I am bashing her. I know everyone has good and bad 
    qualities. It just seems that in this case the bad are so much 
    more outstanding.
    
    				Thanks again  A.J. 
    
    P.s.  One thing that helped my friend see the light (blinding as
    	  it was) was a new and much better relationship.