Though I wish it didn’t, it really bothers me when people unfriend me on LiveJournal.
I think it’s the terminology. It’s pretty much literally saying “I don’t like you any more.” “We used to be friends and now we’re not.” It feels personal, when (in most cases anyway) I’m sure it’s not. Everyone’s internet time is limited; I have things I read and things I don’t have time to read, just like anyone else.
But not reading something is passive, invisible, silent. Unfriending someone is very overt.
I know I could turn off the notice, so I wouldn’t know about it when someone unfriended me–in fact, I used to have it turned off–but actually that’s worse, because I will always notice eventually, and then I think, Jeez, how long ago did that happen? I’d rather know when it happens and deal with it.
I’d REALLY rather not have to deal with it emotionally at all–as I said above, I wish it didn’t bother me. But it brings out my inner twelve-year-old, caught in cruel junior-high games all over again, and, well, bleh.
Guess I’ll go upstairs and see what that spider’s up to.