Woman asks if she should ditch friend with anti-abortion views

Woman divides opinion after saying she wants to cut her friend with extreme anti-abortion views out of her life – with some arguing it’s good to be around people who ‘go against the grain’

• Anonymous UK-based poster took to Mumsnet to ask for views on her friend 
• Her friend holds staunchly anti abortion views, which she forces on people
• The poster is unsure as to whether she should continue the relationship
• Some said the friend should ‘f***k off’ others say it is ok for pals to disagree 

A woman has divided opinions over whether she should remain friends with someone who is vocal about her extreme anti-abortion views.

The anonymous woman, thought to be UK-based, took to Mumsnet to ask people for their thoughts on the situation.

She noted that while people disagree on different issues, her friend will not respect her wishes to not discuss the topic.

And she received some polarised responses, with some saying it’s okay to disagree with your friends, and others saying her pal should ‘f*** off’. 

An anonymous woman has revealed that she is struggling with a friend’s (not pictured) extremely strong anti abortion views (stock image)

The post, written by an anonymous woman, who is thought to be based in the UK, asked people for their opinion on whether it would be ok to end a friendship 

The post said: ‘I accept that we all have to agree to disagree on some stuff. But I am struggling with a friend’s extreme anti-abortion views . 

‘She thinks even if a woman is raped she shouldn’t be allowed an abortion. She’s quite opinionated anyway. 

‘I can see us falling out soon. I’ve told her I no longer wish to discuss it, but she still airs her views. 

‘The thing that really gets me (and okay we have probably all done things we regret) is that she’s had two abortions herself including a late one. I don’t want to break off our friendship but I’m struggling.’

A number of respondents said they would be uninterested in continuing the friendship, as they found the views extremely unpalatable

The post prompted mixed responses, with one very strongly worded comment reading: ‘She wouldn’t be my friend.

‘Anyone who wants to force a birth, and control other women’s body is a c*** and can f*** off.’  

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

A third added: ‘It seems as if this is the end of the friendship to be honest. Please at least tell her why.’

And a fourth wrote: ‘She’d be a former friend so fast.’

Some Mumsnetters fundamentally disagreed with the friend’s opinion on abortion but felt that her insistence of talking about her views posed a bigger detriment to the relationship

For some respondents, it was the friend’s refusal to respect the poster’s wishes not to discuss the topic that posed the bigger threat to the relationship.

One wrote: ‘I couldn’t be friends with an anti-choice, hypocritical, preaching nutcase. She’s entitled to her opinions, but she doesn’t need to go on and on about them when she knows you don’t agree and you find it upsetting.’

Another agreed, writing: ‘This to me is the deal breaker. A complete lack of respect.’  

A further Mumsnetter chimed in writing: ‘If you’ve asked her not to bring it up already and she ignores that then what’s the point in trying to engage with her? I’d give up on the friendship and let her preach to someone else, yes she’s entitled to her opinions but you’re also entitled not to hear them.’ 

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

However, a number of respondents felt that friends should be able to maintain a good relationship despite having different opinions.

One such poster said: ‘Let her have her views. You can just disagree with her. We live in a country where we are free to think what we think (lucky for us). The alternative is much much worse.’

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

‘If your friend is willing to listen and honestly engage (not just bash you with her thoughts), then you will be able to have some fabulous conversations. But if not, you have a choice, a) respect her right to think differently but ask her to not bring it up or b) distance yourself from the friendship.

‘Personally I’d never distance myself from an otherwise good friendship just because they see the world differently.’

And a third simply added: ‘You are friends. Friends can remain so but still hold different opinions surely?’

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