A woman asks if she should dump her anti-abortion friend

A woman is divided on whether she should remain friends with a man who expresses his strong anti-abortion views.

An anonymous woman, believed to be based in the UK, took over Mamnet ask people their thoughts on the situation.

She noted that while people disagree on various issues, her friend would not respect her wish not to discuss the subject.

And she got some polarizing responses, with some saying it’s okay to disagree with friends, while others saying her friend needs to “go away.”

The post, written by an anonymous woman believed to be based in the UK, asked people for their opinion on whether a friend could be unfriended

The message read: “I accept that we all have to agree to disagree on some things. But I struggle with a friend’s extreme anti-abortion views.

“She believes that even if a woman is raped, she should not be allowed to have an abortion. In any case, she is quite confident.

“I can see we’re going to have a fight soon. I told her I didn’t want to discuss it anymore, but she still expressed her views.

“What really worries me is that she herself had two abortions, including one late. I don’t want to break our friendship, but it’s hard for me.”

A number of respondents stated that they were not interested in continuing the friendship because they found the views extremely unpleasant

The post drew mixed reactions, with one particularly scathing comment: “She’s not going to be my friend.”

“Anyone who wants to force a baby and control other women’s bodies is an a*** and can go.”

Another respondent wrote: “I couldn’t be friends with someone with such extreme views, it would be a fundamental lack of respect and I can’t be friends with someone I don’t respect.”

A third added: “Honestly, it feels like the end of a friendship. Please at least tell her why.’

And a fourth wrote: “She would so quickly become an ex-friend.”

Some moms strongly disagreed with their friend’s views on abortion, but believed that her insistence on speaking up about her views did more damage to the relationship

For some respondents, a friend’s refusal to respect the poster’s wishes not to discuss the topic was a major threat to the relationship.

One wrote: “I couldn’t be friends with an anti-choice lunatic, hypocrite and preacher. She’s entitled to her opinion, but she doesn’t need to pursue them if she knows you disagree and it upsets you.’

Another agreed, writing: “This is a deal breaker for me. Total lack of respect.”

Another mom wrote: “If you’ve already asked her not to bring it up and she’s ignoring it, what’s the point of trying to communicate with her?” I would unfriend her and let her preach to someone else, yes she has a right to her opinion but you also have a right not to hear it.’

Some felt that a friend should be entitled to a different opinion, and even if that opinion disgusts the poster, that shouldn’t automatically mean the end of the friendship

However, a number of respondents believe that friends should be able to maintain good relations despite their differences of opinion.

One such poster read: “Let her speak her mind. You can simply disagree with her. We live in a country where we are free to think what we think (luckily for us). The alternative is much worse.”

Another agreed, writing: “I have friends who have very different views of me. I love it! It’s an opportunity to step outside of your own thought bubble/culture and see how the “other side” thinks.

“If your girlfriend is willing to listen and talk honestly with you (and not just bombard you with her thoughts), then you’ll be able to have great conversations. But if not, you have a choice: a) respect her right to think differently, but ask her not to bring it up, or b) distance yourself from the friendship.

“Personally, I would never distance myself from a good friendship just because they see the world differently.”

And the third simply added: “You are friends. Friends can stay the same, but hold different opinions, surely?