I'm a bit confused. If someone else doesn't need/want you for a friend, haven't they already called it quits? Over the years I've had friends who haven't called, written, etc. like they were accustomed to in the past and it's been pretty clear they didn't want to be friends anymore so I don't know that there was anything needed to be done on my part (except grieve and move on).

On the other hand, if other people haven't clearly broken up with me but are just unresponsive, that too says to me, "Why do I want to continue to be "friends" with this person; it's no fun, is unfulfilling?"

It can be very sad, lonely and, if it's love affair, painful, but trying to force a relationship is like trying to push a string :-)