Friends' Prejudiced Thinking Leads to Social Isolation
- On Thursday, advice columnist Eric Thomas addressed two distinct reader concerns: a 61-year-old's strategy for handling prejudiced acquaintances and a friend's distress regarding a companion trapped in a marriage with an alcoholic.
- The 61-year-old retired writer frequently "ghosted" long-term acquaintances for using derogatory language, asserting these individuals were not worth the time required to provide an explanation.
- Separately, an exasperated friend reported that a companion of 45 years remains in a marriage to an alcoholic who has never acknowledged his dependency or sought help despite serious health problems.
- Eric advised the concerned friend to lay out the facts rather than relitigating the lifestyle, suggesting the spouse might find support through Al-Anon or SMART Recovery Family meetings.
- Regarding the ghosting strategy, Eric suggested evaluating how the writer meets people and encouraged volunteering or joining interest-based clubs to connect with those whose worldviews align with their own.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Friends' prejudiced thinking leads to social isolation
Dear Eric: I have never had patience for prejudice. I grew up in a household where it simply wasn't practiced, and it wasn't until I went to college in the 1980s that I realized some people harbor dislike for others…
Asking Eric: I’ve cut off so many people for prejudice that I barely have a social circle
Dear Eric: I have never had patience for prejudice. I grew up in a household where it simply wasn’t practiced, and it wasn’t until I went to college in the 1980s that I realized some people harbor dislike for others without reason. To this day, I still don’t truly understand it.
Asking Eric: My zero-tolerance policy for bigotry left me with almost no friends
Dear Eric: I have never had patience for prejudice. I grew up in a household where it simply wasn’t practiced, and it wasn’t until I went to college in the 1980s that I realized some people harbor dislike for others without reason. To this day, I still don’t truly understand it.
Asking Eric: Should I confront prejudiced friends or just ghost them like I always do?
Dear Eric: I have never had patience for prejudice. I grew up in a household where it simply wasn’t practiced, and it wasn’t until I went to college in the 1980s that I realized some people harbor dislike for others without reason. To this day, I still don’t truly understand it.
Asking Eric: At 61, will my stance on bigotry leave me friendless?
Dear Eric: I have never had patience for prejudice. I grew up in a household where it simply wasn’t practiced, and it wasn’t until I went to college in the 1980s that I realized some people harbor dislike for others without reason. To this day, I still don’t truly understand it.
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Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources are Center
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