Break Up by Association

When we are dating someone it is almost inevitable that our friendship groups will mix. We will meet a lot of people. Some we will love, some we will hate, but it is undeniable that we will become friends with some of them – whether it is forced friendship or not.

                Whether you become friends with her friends, or with her friends’ boyfriends – there is no way that this friendship can end in a civil manner. Once a couple breaks up it is no longer acceptable for one half to be friends with the other half’s friends. As juvenile as it may sound, sides MUST be taken. If you become friends with your girlfriend’s best friend’s boyfriend, you better believe that when you and your girl break up he will be forbidden from seeing you. Any of her male or female friends that you thought you got along with well – they aren’t allowed to see you, talk about you, or even think about you. Any of those are ultimate acts of betrayal.

                I know some guys are reading this and it’s not making sense to them. “I’ll be friends with whoever the fuck I want to be friends with.” Oh contraire, tough guy. I’m afraid to say that it’s not your choice. Your ex now controls your extended social network. With pleasure.

                With relationships less serious than engagement, this occurrence may be linked to a petty act of revenge, jealousy, or straight up vindictiveness. However, when it comes to a divorce, the maturity level of the couple would be expected to prevent any of this juvenile activity. Well, sorry. The couples of friends will take care of the immaturity for you. Since they have been conditioned from the beginning of their relationship days not to be friends with friends’ exes, they will choose which half of the break up they will remain friends with. The couple will only choose one half, they cannot choose one person each – you know how unwritten rules work. They may even voice who they have chosen and apologize that they cannot keep in touch with the other anymore.

                This is a social convention rarely noticed and rarely spoken about, but often accepted. The funny thing about it is that the friend will obey the friendship rule blindly, but when it becomes sexually driven – the backstabbing begins.