I had someone unfriend me on Facebook over a disagreement about a song. He posted a video of P!nk doing a cover of "I Touch Myself" by Divinyls. I commented that I enjoyed the video but would always prefer the original. His reply was "no way is the original better!" and his tone definitely seemed more defensive than playful. I politely explained that I was merely stating my personal preference. No further response on his part--except to unfriend me.

I lost another friend due to our differing beliefs about the afterlife. We were having an online discussion about fun things to do when visiting new cities, and I suggested a ghost tour. She explained that ghost tours make her uncomfortable because, as a Christian, she believed that people either go to heaven or hell when they die--therefore, any spiritual entities roaming the streets would be demons, rather than the souls of the deceased. I explained that I believe in ghosts (in the traditional sense, that they are the souls of dead people) and asked if our difference in belief made her think less of me. She said "not really." After that, I could tell that something had changed between us. She became distant and eventually stopped talking to me altogether. Obviously "not really" actually meant "yes."

Most recently, I had a friend who went through a major personality change after she started dating a guy who was involved in a cult. (I don't know if that particular movement is technically classified as a cult, but there's definitely a cult-like mentality among its members.) She used to be very feminist and independent minded. Then this guy came into her life and she turned into the polar opposite. One day she posted an anti-female quote from Varg Vikernes--who is not only deeply misogynist and bigoted, but is also a convicted arsonist and murderer. I PM'ed her to ask if she posted the quote sarcastically, and she explained that she was serious and agreed with everything he said. I didn't know what to say. When I went back the next day to reply, I saw that she had already unfriended me. Simply for having asked why she posted the meme.

Fortunately these were all casual friendships. I was more amused than hurt by the way they ended. People can be so petty sometimes. And that last one...definitely a case of the trash taking itself out.