Ask Lemmy

There are people that don't care if their lifestyle exploits child labor. As long as they benefit, that is all that matters to them. They are so disconnected and unable to fathom or have empathy for anyone aside from themselves or their small inner circle. It isn't a small minority like this but unfortunately around half of America. About 30% of them are just incredibly spoiled, but as soon as they face hardships then it is all woe me. Now a few of them after may gain empathy, but a larger percentage just want everyone else to suffer and be miserable too. It's fucking despicable what money does to people.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Cutting people out of your life hurts even when it’s the right call, and it sucks things have deteriorated to the point of considering it.

I think the gut reaction a lot of people are going to have is to dump him, both because they think it’s the right thing to do and because it’s easy to say that when you’re not cutting an important person out of your own life. And I don’t think that’s a wrong impulse, but before going for the nuclear option, let’s at least take a look at what other options are available to you.

You mention he makes money in some way off Musk. To shift your perspective, what that means is you have access to someone that makes Musk money, who presumably also considers you a friend and values you. What is going to have the highest chance of success of convincing him to stop doing business with Musk?

You’re the one that knows him, nobody here can give a better answer than you. If you think that cutting him off cold turkey is going to be a real wake up call to him, then it might be the right way to go.

But be sure that’s what it is, and not that you don’t want to put in the work of having hard, uncomfortable conversations about it. Staying his friend (or at least in contact with him) but not censoring your opinion about Musk and the fact that it lowers your opinion of your friend might be more persuasive than you being out of his life and not kicking up a fuss. Again, you’re going to know better than anyone here since you know him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdSRHM5gXt4

i, too, have a friend that in all-in for elon and made tons of money with tesla stock; he is an elon and trump supporter, etc.

we talk politics regularly, and almost always disagree in these conversations. it can get a little heated sometimes, but we are pretty good at catching ourselves... after all, politics are all opinion-based, so our politics being on the opposite ends if the spectrum are understandable.

if talking politics is too much for the friendship to handle, then i recommend talking about it less (even though it can be difficult when every other story in the news is about it rn). if he brings up a political point, tell him you would rather not talk politics (i say this to my father whenever he comes over, too; its a lot easier to enjoy someone's company through an enforced facade)

Friends come and go, cut and move on.

At this point in Muskrat's meddling, it's reached the point of treason.

You don't negotiate with traitors. You don't reason with traitors. When all is said and done, you reach the point where the only thing that is done with traitors is to put them against the wall in front of a firing squad. If that's the side your "friend" wants to pick, it's on him.

Randomly play M.D.C. song about John Wayne and observe his eyes.