Advice Ignoring people: tips, tricks and some venting

[paltatomate]

I'm pretty good at ignoring people as long as I don't have any kind of connection to them. Random strangers making comments about something I did? No problem for me. I can filter them out and don't even need drugs for that.

But what if there is a person (let's say a half-brother) who is regularly trying to provoke an argument just for the argument's sake? Or for whatever other reason, like he's bored, unsatisfied with his life, feels lonely, or angry at somebody else and too chicken to take it out on them?

I don't want to go into details here. And sure, I could simply block his number and that would be it. But he's still my brother, and there was a time when we got along pretty well. Blocking him would be the same as cutting him out of my life, and I don't want to do that.

Yet he keeps texting once a month with some annoying comment, and it's obvious he does it on purpose. Today I managed to forget about it (or not because I'm creating this post) thanks to my dogs who came jumping in just when I saw his first (harmless) message.

But other times,especially when I'm stressed, this really gets to me. Thus my question:

How do you ignore people or comments you can't just avoid?

 

[crazyhairman]

I've ignored almost everyone in my life except my current partner. In my past I felt like I couldn't let things go. Like I had to prove I was right. Now I really don't need the idea that I'm right.

Couple examples recently. Ex bestie just got out of prison, not surprising he tried to contact me. I wanted to tell him off. I wanted to make it clear he wasn't welcome here. Then I thought, why do I care. He did his time. I don't need to get all upset over someone who's not in my life anymore. So I blocked him and said nothing.

Another chick randomly found me on messenger. She said she was sorry how it ended with us and seeing my pictures made her realize something blah blah . She was a stripper I cheated on my gf with over a decade ago. She was dating one of my best friends at the time. I just remember her prank calling me and my girlfriend a bunch of times and being absolutely crazy. I almost told her off but instead I just pretended I didn't remember her.
You could tell that messed with her mind more than anything else.

I have no need or want to reconnect with anyone that has fucked me over.

I was out with some friends one night. My buddy had been drinking and said some things that offended me so I got up and left. Didn't say anything, just stood up and walked out. That was 6 years ago. Never talked since. I promise you I don't care that much about people anymore.

You want to be rude fine do it over there without me.

 

[paltatomate]

I can understand not wanting to reconnect with people from a decade plus ago. Or even a year. I mean, I got once a mail from a high school friend who told me I was the reason why he didn't become a doctor (instead he became CEO of a prosperous company). Don't need that kind of shit in my life.
So I can understand what you mean, @crazyhairman (nice name, btw)

I was out with some friends one night. My buddy had been drinking and said some things that offended me so I got up and left. Didn't say anything, just stood up and walked out. That was 6 years ago. Never talked since. I promise you I don't care that much about people anymore.

I'm a nice person only by choice. But I think in this case I would have given my buddy at least a chance to explain or apologize (he was drunk after all).