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The question was, “How to deal with people on Facebook who keep bugging
you?”
Social media is great
for keeping in touch, and making new friends, but unfortunately, it also opens
the floodgates to unwanted contact.
The two things that top the list include unsolicited advice and repeated PMs or requests for private chatting.
Note: I'm not including PMs that ask for a contact, referral, or other very specific help or information. Those are always okay.
For me, the factors pushing
both behaviours is similar.
I see giving an unsolicited
opinion once is okay, as it can be very hard to see
if someone is just moaning about an issue because it happens to be on their mind or whether they are asking for help.
Asking someone to chat when you've not met and you haven't had long public conversations on their timeline, well, I wouldn't do it myself but assuming it's polite and not a dick pic, I suppose there's no harm in it.
However, it's only okay if the friend stops when you don't reply or fob them off with an "I'm busy" or equal non-response.
A person who is genuinely interested in your advice or who wants to chat in order to get to know you better will come back to you. If they don't, you should move on. This is why I think a second push is a no-no.
Still, suppose your friend goes for it again. If you think they're
basically okay but just not getting it, you have to be completely
straightforward. The message has to be utterly plain, so they can't mistake it. After all, the subtle stuff has already passed them by.
For random unwelcome advice, you might say, “This is not something I wish to discuss further.”
If you have a health
problem that's brought out the crazies, a friend who is expert at fielding these
recommends, you preface it with a graceful, “Thank you
for your kindness. I have a detailed treatment plan I am comfortable with.”
For persistent chat requests, I use this standard phrase, “If you have a specific question, or need a
contact, do PM me, but I just don't have the time for random chitchat.”
It can be difficult to have to be this blunt but it means you can invite an “okay, I get it” in
return, and it's all good again. With this option, you make it possible to keep your friend. I'm all in favour of this, because relationships are to be treasured.
However, if that person has a hissy fit, or keeps bugging you, that’s different.
I could beat around
the bush here and be super sweet about it, but let’s talk turkey. There might be many underlying causes fueling this annoying persistence, and none are flattering.
· They are self-centred/entitled and can't see their opinions/attentions are unwelcome.
·
They are selling
something and hope to bully you into buying.
·
They are
advocates/evangelists, meaning they are bullies intent on shoving their
opinions onto you.
·
They are abusive
and this is an attempt to control you by wearing you down.
In all these cases, I
think it’s acceptable to cut them off. I do.
Clearly it will be
more difficult if this person is close to you. However, there really is no
reason why you should put up with bad behaviour.
