Asking Eric: When one-sided friendships need space

Dear Eric: You’ve received numerous letters from those who say their gestures of friendship are not reciprocated. Some friendships, like the example by “Uncelebrated”, whose friends didn’t recognize or celebrate a cancer battle, have spanned weeks, months, or even years of a seemingly one-sided promotion of the relationship with the lopsided sacrificial investment of time and energy. It boggles my mind that I have yet to hear two possible explanations: One, “introvert” versus “extrovert” personalities. And two, that the unresponsive “friend” doesn’t enjoy their company and would prefer to not meet with them.

I’ve yet to see you or others side with the friend who wants more space or even in some cases, apparently isn’t interested in continuing the relationship. My thought is, “they can’t take a hint.”