Just Go Away Why Doncha?!
July 2, 2010 9:45 PM Subscribe
What's a good quote, saying, poem, or short passage that boils down to "Let sleeping dogs lie" - but isn't that exact quote, or the original "It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake?"
I want this as a pat response to old boyfriends who try to friend me on FB and/or contact me in other ways - it's happened often enough that I think I need a stock answer. And... not just any old boring "Please don't contact me again." Yawn. I want something acerbic and final, along the lines of Oscar Wilde.
I want this as a pat response to old boyfriends who try to friend me on FB and/or contact me in other ways - it's happened often enough that I think I need a stock answer. And... not just any old boring "Please don't contact me again." Yawn. I want something acerbic and final, along the lines of Oscar Wilde.
Or, you could just keep denying or ignoring their friend requests until they get the idea.
posted by amyms at 10:02 PM on July 2, 2010
posted by amyms at 10:02 PM on July 2, 2010
Best answer: Something from a great kiss-off song (my favorite, Don't Come Around Here No More)?
Oh, or maybe you meant something like “I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then” (Lewis Carroll). I think that comes off less arch today than it did originally, though.
But probably just not responding is best. Responding at all might tempt someone to simply revise their approach.
(Years ago, I got a letter ending in "Take off, hoser." And more recently, someone turned her blog black on black. And also years ago, I got my copy of The Annotated Lolita crammed into my too-small college post-office box, permanently mangling it, though that wasn't her fault.)
posted by dhartung at 10:11 PM on July 2, 2010
Oh, or maybe you meant something like “I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then” (Lewis Carroll). I think that comes off less arch today than it did originally, though.
But probably just not responding is best. Responding at all might tempt someone to simply revise their approach.
(Years ago, I got a letter ending in "Take off, hoser." And more recently, someone turned her blog black on black. And also years ago, I got my copy of The Annotated Lolita crammed into my too-small college post-office box, permanently mangling it, though that wasn't her fault.)
posted by dhartung at 10:11 PM on July 2, 2010
But it's too late to say you're sorry. How would I know, why should I care?
Please don't bother trying to find her. She's not there.
She's Not There by the Zombies.
I like the lines by themselves, but when it's sung it doesn't come off that strong. I also doubt they'd get the reference.
posted by unannihilated at 10:34 PM on July 2, 2010
Please don't bother trying to find her. She's not there.
She's Not There by the Zombies.
I like the lines by themselves, but when it's sung it doesn't come off that strong. I also doubt they'd get the reference.
posted by unannihilated at 10:34 PM on July 2, 2010
A similar concept is expressed by the saying, if it isn't broken, don't fix it (or in the ungrammatical form, if it ain't broke, don't fix it).
posted by grizzled at 6:18 AM on July 3, 2010
posted by grizzled at 6:18 AM on July 3, 2010
Best answer: I don't know about this. I feel like responding with a quotation is... maybe not exactly flirty, but kind of playful. It invites thinking more about the person, why they responded that way, what exactly they meant by it, etc, etc. A lot of guys are pretty dense when it comes to how to interact (or not interact) with exes, so I think the boring but direct approach is the right one.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:23 AM on July 3, 2010
posted by Rock Steady at 6:23 AM on July 3, 2010
Best answer: A riff on Machiavelli's dedication to "The Prince":
"Take this little gift in the spirit in which I send it: Goodbye."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:03 AM on July 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
"Take this little gift in the spirit in which I send it: Goodbye."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:03 AM on July 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm with Rock Steady. We're a dense bunch, so I think ignoring is the best tactic. Pithy responses may just invite further contact.
posted by arcticseal at 7:31 AM on July 3, 2010
posted by arcticseal at 7:31 AM on July 3, 2010
"Tyler's not here. Tyler went away. Tyler's gone."
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 8:37 AM on July 3, 2010
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 8:37 AM on July 3, 2010
Best answer: You might find some creative responses in this previously.
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:40 AM on July 3, 2010
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:40 AM on July 3, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
"Don't go away mad. Just go away."
posted by amyms at 10:01 PM on July 2, 2010